Ghazal Poetry
Write Islamic verse featuring independent couplets with a shared refrain
A ghazal is a poetic form originating from Arabic and flourishing in Persian, Urdu, and Turkish poetry. It consists of autonomous couplets (called couplets or shers) that can stand alone, separated by a rhyming word and refrain in the opening couplet. Each couplet explores themes of love, loss, and longing, often with wit and wordplay. The form has gained popularity among contemporary English-language poets.
How to start
- 1Choose a refrain word (qafia) and a rhyming word that precedes it (radif)
- 2Write your opening couplet (matla) featuring both the refrain and rhyme
- 3Compose additional couplets (shers) that each stand independently
- 4End with a signature couplet (makhta) that includes your name or pen name
What you'll need
- NotebookEssential~$5
- Ghazal reference textNice to have~$15
Where to learn more
Plot twists
Ways to spice this up when the basics get boring.
- Write a ghazal in English using contemporary slang
- Create a ghazal that tells a fragmented love story across its couplets
- Compose a political ghazal responding to current events
The independence of each couplet means you can write them in any order. Great for scattered energy—write when inspiration strikes without needing linear structure.
The ghazal has been performed for over 1,500 years. Historically, musicians would accompany ghazal recitations, making it both a literary and musical form.
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