No companion remains, no beloved, no friend of mine,
Truth be told—this heart holds no one as truly mine.
To whom shall I carry the burden of grief and despair?
In sorrow’s silence, no soul answers this heart of mine.
Countless are the reasons that summon a tear to the eye,
Yet who speaks today of passion, that fire divine?
Who now can fathom love’s ancient, perilous way?
The path is endless, no sign of a goal is mine.
Love came at last, but alas—it came too late,
An unopened door, a fate unkind, not mine.
I waited, I lingered, yet hope never bloomed,
Only ashes remain, where once dreams were mine.
Still, I cling to a fragile, vanishing flame,
But no friend remains to share the wine with me.
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Interpretation –
Ghazal Wahshat → a deeper sense of desolation, often mixed with fear. The name “Wahshat” is given by us to this unnamed ghazal by mom as it’s one of the words she used a lot, and it does resonate a lot with this ghazal.
This is written by Dr. Kahkashan Parween, a teacher by calling and a writer at heart. She studied Urdu—the gentle, generous language she loved – and carried its grace into her life: soft-spoken, clear-minded, and unfailingly kind. She lived for people, helped wherever she could, and held on to memories the way others hold on to keepsakes. We are her proud kids, and this space is for her: a home for her words, so her voice is never lost. May everyone who reads here find a little comfort, a little light, and remember her with me.