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The Collective Ghazal

Recent Entries

Sheraz Ahmed
Drunkards congregate in the noise of the tavern.The wine they drink though is the wine of silence.
Aazib Chaudhry
Meditation is just another ritual, I am aware.True piety is in the act of chanting silence.
Amina Qureshi
Where perception fails, love lights the way.The lantern of love is naught but flaming silence.
Alex Brush
If truth needs to be confirmed by perception,How am I to affirm your existence, O Silence?
Noor Hashmi
In self-exile I speak to no one but you, beloved:You who are the melodious voice of silence.

Contribute your own verses or learn more about the art of ghazal-writing.

Recent Articles

Reciting Poetry in a Garden, ceramic tiles, 17th century

Instructions on Contributing to the Collective Ghazal

While a ghazal traditionally has a single author, here, at The Ghazal Project, we would like to celebrate the beauty of the English ghazal by fostering a sense of shared creativity and connection. Our platform’s Collective Ghazal feature allows users from around the world to join in crafting a single, continuous poem.

Nizamuddin Auliya with His Disciple Amir Khusrow, 17th century

How to Write an English Ghazal: Exploring Three Variants

The ghazal consists of a series of couplets, each of which is autonomous yet connected through thematic resonance. In this guide, we explore three variations of the ghazal. We also discuss the importance of meter and offer examples to illustrate the art of crafting a ghazal.

Khusraw Listening to Barbad Playing Music, Nizami's Khamsa (Five Poems), 16th century

A Brief History of the Ghazal

The ghazal is one of the most enduring poetic forms in the history of literature, with origins deeply rooted in the Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and South Asian traditions. Over the centuries, it has transcended linguistic and cultural boundaries, evolving into a versatile medium for expressing themes of love, loss, spirituality, and existential longing.

Learn More About Us

The Ghazal Project aims to promote the rich artistic culture of Pakistan and the subcontinent by encouraging cultural amalgamation through variants of the ghazal form, fit for adaptation into the English language. To this end, we have partnered with Virsapur, an organization dedicated to reviving Pakistan's diverse cultural heritage.