Class

Ghazals!

Feeling heartsick? There's a poetic form for that. The ghazal (pronounced "ghuzzle" or “kuh-zahl”) is an ancient form, originating in 6th century Arabic verse. Traditionally invoking melancholy, love, longing, and metaphysical questions, ghazals are often sung by Iranian, Afghan, Pakistani, and Indian musicians. The ghazal traditionally deals with just one subject: love, specifically an illicit and unattainable love, and is always written from the point of view of the unrequited lover. Contemporary ghazals have been written about love, or other topics, often spiritual. We'll read samples of traditional ghazals (Rumi, Hafiz, Ghalib) and contemporary ghazals (Agha Shahid Ali, Adrienne Rich, Fatimah Askar, Kazim Ali, etc.), and learn the rule for this form, then we'll have time to begin to draft our own. There will be time for questions, reading your draft out loud if you want, and learning some tips for revision. Come ready to learn, express your heartache, and have some fun.

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