Ghazal: July's Form of the Month for Mindful Poetry

I don't know why I put off writing this monthly column. Â I'd already chosen the form last month! Â This is a form in which I haven't been successful yet, but plan to change that by month's end. Â Well, that sounds a little conceited, doesn't it? Â

Why a ghazal? Â Isn't that some type of antelope in Africa? Â A ghazal (and I've heard two pronunciations for this--guzzle and gah-zahl') originated in Persia, the land we now call Iran. Â

Manny, a fellow poet I know who emigrated from Iran about 17 years ago to Minneapolis, explained that this form of poetry is steeped in the oral tradition. Â Because the poem was built orally, without writing it down, repetition was used to help the authors remember it. Â Men would sit around in a circle each taking a turn by creating a stanza of the poem. Â Manny said this would go on for hours. Â

Because of the length--a traditional ghazal comprises five couplets and typically no more than fifteen--and repeats the same word at the end of each stanza, I think a good topic for a ghazal is one that bears exploring or elaboration. Â
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I've heard Robert Bly on number of times. Â He's, like me, a Minnesotan after all. Â It was at the tribute to Bill Holm where he read asÂ The Brothers FrantzichÂ played their instruments that something happened to me. Â I suspect it was the irresistible combination of poetry and music, but Bly's reading of a ghazal, Stealing Sugar from the Castle, changed me, thrilled me, pulled me into the magical world of ghazals. Â

So let's take some time this month to look carefully at the links explaining the ghazal as well as reading some examples here provided then try it for ourselves. Â Something beautiful will happen and I can hardly wait for you to share it with me.

Edited to add that Dr. Ashok Saxena has written a bit of his history of the ghazal from Urdu poetry in India. Â Read his short essay here. Â

Comments: 24

Dr. Ashok Saxena Jul 8, 2009, 4:47pm UTC

Ghazal is aform of urdu poetry and in India i has a great tradition .The most popular form In films u can find it Ghazal singers are in great demand

Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Jul 8, 2009, 5:11pm UTC

Thank you for your cultural insight.

Dr. Ashok Saxena Jul 8, 2009, 5:36pm UTC

Since i love ur efforts and contributed to ur prompts once I have written an introductory post on ghazal for my gather friends Ihope u may like it

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Kathryn Flynn Jul 8, 2009, 5:12pm UTC

I love this and have never been previously acquainted before....

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Svetlana Goryacheva Jul 8, 2009, 5:14pm UTC

Not sure about the result, but I'll try! :-)

Blessings and best wishes - S.

Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Jul 8, 2009, 7:47pm UTC

You have the whole month to tinker around, Sveta. I know I'll need that long. WE keeps me pretty busy in my non-work hours.

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Kathryn Flynn Jul 8, 2009, 5:30pm UTC

Featured in the Triple Name Club.

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Atticus *. Jul 8, 2009, 7:59pm UTC

Well Susan, you have really thrown down the gauntlet this time! I hope I'm up to it. I can't wait to see what comes out of this.

Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Jul 9, 2009, 12:34am UTC

Isn't that the truth, Atticus?! I'm excited, too. I tell ya, I completely fell head-over-heels when Robt. Bly read his ghazal at the Fitzgerald in St. Paul.

I've written a couple ghazals about three years ago. I was sorely unimpressed. I'll dig them out, though, and see if anything can be salvaged.

Either way, I'm writing a new one this month. :-)

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Dan R. Jul 9, 2009, 2:37am UTC

I taught this form on another site. It came from about the 1200's in Iran, where it was sung to seduce women. I have written a number of them, and tried to keep the traditional concept in focus.

Dan R. Jul 9, 2009, 2:47am UTC

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977732761

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Mike Ellwood Jul 9, 2009, 3:35am UTC

I have visited the Robert Bly link and I commend it strongly. Thankyou for bringing it to attention, Susan.

Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Jul 9, 2009, 4:49am UTC

It's like a bag of M-n-Ms or potato chips. I just keep wanting to reach in for more.

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Kerry Dexter Jul 9, 2009, 8:41am UTC

Susan,

I haven't though of this form in years -- you're always introducing me to/reminding me of new things. thanks -- I'm going have to try this one.

Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Jul 9, 2009, 9:24am UTC

That is exciting to hear, Kerry! I wonder what your focus will be.....

:-)

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Heather M. Jul 9, 2009, 4:13pm UTC

I'm not too certain of this form. I've looked at examples, and I'm not certain if I quite "get" it on the level of actually being able to bring one to fruition.

Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Jul 10, 2009, 9:40am UTC

Heather, I've known and tried ghazals over the years and am only now feeling confident that I'll be able to write one to my satisfaction. Our attempts don't have to be perfect. :-) This is just a new thing to try. Maybe look at some of the ghazals that others have posted just this month to Mindful Poetry. You'll see plenty of fairly newbie-to-ghazal submissions.