(27 December 1797 – 15 February 1869 / Agra / British India)

poet Mirza Ghalib
#32 on top 500 poets
What do you think this poem is about?

It is not Love it is Madness

(You say) It is not love, it is madness
My madness may be the cause of your fame
Sever not my relationship with you
If nothing then be my enemy
What is the meaning of notoriety in meeting me
If not in public court meet me alone
I am not my own enemy
So what if the stranger is in love with you
Whatever you are, it is due to your own being
If this not known then it is ignorance
Life though fleets like a lightening flash
Yet it is abundant Time to be in love
I do not want debate on the sustenance of love
Be it not love but another dilemma
Give something O biased One
At least the sanction to cry and plea
I will perpetuate the rituals
Even if cruelty be your habit
Teasing and cajoling the beloved cannot leave 'Asad'
Even if there is no union and only the desire remains

Submitted: Thursday, January 01, 2004
Edited: Friday, March 23, 2012


Read poems about / on: alone, love

Comments about this poem (It is not Love it is Madness by Mirza Ghalib )

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  • Gogo Amin (5/9/2013 11:01:00 PM)

    as if we look to each other through mirror and both say in one word devil in mirror... so do you believe that even devil was an Angle one day? ? an opinion..

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  • Dylan Gaudreault (9/1/2011 8:31:00 AM)

    great poem i understand for the most part

    2 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
  • Dylan Gaudreault (9/1/2011 8:31:00 AM)

    great poem i understand for the most part

    2 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
  • Ashish Dimri (3/10/2009 1:02:00 AM)

    If you wish to understand 'Mirza Ghalib', then you ought to learn about his background! Ghalib went through the worst but accepted it with grace!
    His stoic acceptance of life could be seen in his verses!

    2 person liked.
    		3 person did not like.
  • Vineet Kapoor (12/6/2006 10:07:00 PM)

    Excellent Effort. I believe Vehshat comes from Vehshi, which is not necessarily mad, where Paagalpan comes from Pagal, which is more like mad.

    2 person liked.
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  • Nasra Al Adawi (4/9/2005 7:10:00 PM)

    WOw < I like the translated poem...Great work...

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    		2 person did not like.
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