क्या कहूँ तुमसे मैं के क्या है इश्क़
जान का रोग है बला है इश्क़
~ मीर तक़ी मीर
کیا کہوں تم سے میں کہ کیا ہے عش
جان کا روگ ہے بلا ہے عش
~ میر تقی میر
kyaa kahuun tumse main ke kyaa hai ishq
jaan kaa rog hai balaa hai ishq
~ Mir Taqi Mir
What can I say to you about what love is
It is a fatal disease and a huge calamity
Reflection
What can one say of love? When it’s good, you’re on fire! You run on rocket fuel. But when it sours, you feel like setting the world on fire! We have all suffered the agony of a broken heart. But do we ever learn?
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Urdu couplet by Mir Taqi Mir
Courtesy Vijayalaxmi Modi
English translation and reflection by Manish Modi