This is for the dear teacher Who was once training me For a programme where I was Going to recite some beautiful poetry
To a girl all of fourteen, Fresh, energetic, and naive She gave a piece of advice and inadvertently, Changed the course of her life
Yes, life! Here's roughly what she said-
Ghazal, you do NOT have to Pause at the end of each line! Because sometimes in poems The sentence may continue Beyond, so let the words flow Like a Conversation, And you'll notice how much better Will sound your recitation
Something absolutely plain, yet So meaningful, that today I wonder, If she hadn't told me this simple secret When would I, by myself, discover That my words were allowed to spillover Into the next line! I can only look back in amazement To thank her, and thank her some more For saving all of that precious, poetic time