Word Meaning
कली
kali
hinoun, feminine
Meaning
A bud; an unblown or partly opened blossom.
Detailed Meaning
In Urdu poetics, 'kali' symbolizes tender beauty, bashfulness, or delicate youth. In this couplet, the slow and modest unfurling of a flower bud is poetically attributed to learning from the beloved's languid, half-sleepy eyes. The image bridges the natural world with the enchanting grace of the beloved's sleepy gaze.
Etymology
From Sanskrit 'कलिका' (kalikā) via Prakrit 'कलिआ' (kaliā).
Usage
In classical ghazal, a bud often symbolizes silent smiling lips or half-opened drowsy eyes.
Examples
The bud smiles as morning arrives.
A tight bud yearning to blossom.
Synonyms
ग़ुंचामुकुलकोरक
Related Words
फूलगुलशगुफ़्ताबहार