This is the fifth article in a special series by Ally Adnan that brings to life memorable incidents from the rich and fascinating life of Hazrat Amir Khusrau, whose timeless legacy continues to inspire the world Keh Mukarn? is a genre of poetry that originated in eleventh-century India and was first composed in Sindhi and Punjabi.
In the 13th century, Amir Khusrau adapted the form into Hindav?, refining both its structure and style. The poem consists of five lines of dialogue between two maidens. In the first three, one girl makes statements that subtly allude to her lover. In the fourth, the other asks whether she is referring to her beloved. In the fifth line, however, the first girl
denies it, claiming that she had been speaking of something entirely different.
The poem’s name reflects this structure. The first three lines form the keh (“say”)
portion, while the final line is the mukarn? (“denial”). Amir Khusrau’s Keh Mukarn?
is playful, witty and often risqué. The double meanings in the verses give it a
distinct, quaint charm rarely found in other genres of South Asian poetry.
The wedding will take place only if he is there
No one else matters if he is not there
His words sound so very sweet
Is he your beloved, dear friend?
No, dear friend, it is the drum
He stayed awake with me all night
At dawn, he began to part
My heart broke as he left
Was he your beloved, dear friend?
No, dear friend, it was the lamp
He moved and made me sway as well
His movement pleased me greatly
With all that swaying, he grew slack
Was he your beloved, dear friend?
No, dear friend, it was the fan
I held him on my chest all night
I enjoyed all his beauty and color
At dawn, I took him off
Was he your beloved, dear friend?
No, dear friend, it was the necklace
The writer lives in Dallas, Texas and writes about culture, history and the arts. He can be reached at [email protected]