Couplet is poetry in its simplest form. It is particularly close to my heart because that’s how I started writing, and I am glad I did. Poetry somehow filled the void I didn’t know ever existed. It’s like the seed of poetry was always there, the emotions and the motivation watered it and the sapling that emerged was a couplet.
The Concept: Couplets usually comprise two lines that rhyme and have the same metre. In a formal (or closed) couplet, each of the two lines is end-stopped, implying that there is a grammatical pause at the end of a line of the verse and in a run-on (or open) couplet, the meaning of the first line continues to the second.
Good rhyming couplets tend to “explode” as both the rhyme and the idea come to a quick close in two lines. Here are some examples of rhyming couplets where the sense as well as the sound “rhymes”. Example:
True wit is nature to advantage dress’d;
What oft was thought, but ne’er so well express’d.
— Alexander Pope
The amazing thing is that these couplets can be painted in any color, any emotion and they don’t mind. Here are a few shades of ink from my own diary:-
तेरा नाम लबों से गुज़रे अरसा हुआ,
पर मुस्कुराहट अभी बाकी है ;
कैसे भुला दूँ तुझे ए हमनशीं ,
के चाहत अभी बाकी है ||
***
Original Posted at: https://doc2poet.wordpress.com/2015/09/07/couplet1/
लाख़ की कोशिश हमनें ,
के ये जज़्बात इन लफ़्ज़ों में समा जायें ;
पर इन तन्हाइयों में वो नूर कहाँ,
के रूठे इन अल्फ़ाज़ को मना पायें ||
***
Original Posted at: https://doc2poet.wordpress.com/2015/09/10/couplet2/
ये तू नहीं…तेरी याद है बस,
अब कौन इस दिल को समझाए ;
तेरी जूसतजू ने शायर किया,
एक झलक जाने क्या कर जाए ||
***
Original Posted at: https://doc2poet.wordpress.com/2015/09/18/couplet3/
तैरने चले थे दरिया में,
बीच रस्ते बरसात हो गयी,
के ढूँढने निकले थे ख़ुदा को,
और ख़ुद से मुलाक़ात हो गयी ||
***
Original Posted at: https://doc2poet.wordpress.com/2015/09/20/spirituality1/
इन हाथों की लकीरों में तू है,
या तुझसे ये लकीरें,
तू पास नहीं…एहसास है बस,
और धुंधली तस्वीरें ||
***
Original Posted at: https://doc2poet.wordpress.com/2015/10/08/couplet4/
कभी डूबते का सहारा हुआ करते थे,
पर अपनी ही कश्ती में शायद छेद था ;
सोचते थे…की मुट्ठी में सारा जहाँ लिए बैठे हैं,
जाने कब फिसल गया हाथों से…वो केवल रेत था ||
***
Original Posted at: https://doc2poet.wordpress.com/2015/10/12/loneliness1/
तेरे ख़यालों में ऐसा डूबा,
जैसे वर्षा घनघोर हुई ;
जाने कब बीती रात ,
और जाने कब भोर हुई ||
***
Original Posted at: https://doc2poet.wordpress.com/2015/10/15/valentine5/
Ç
Chaturvedi Makhanlal (माखनलाल चतुर्वेदी)
It is a beautiful coincidence that this great poet was also born on 4th of April in 1889. Also called Panditji, he was an Indian poet, writer, essayist, playwright and a journalist who is particularly remembered for his participation in India’s national struggle for independence. He has created more masterpieces than anyone can remember but we can cherish a few for sure 🙂
पुष्प की अभिलाषाचाह नहीं मैं सुरबाला के,
गहनों में गूँथा जाऊँ,
चाह नहीं प्रेमी-माला में,
बिंध प्यारी को ललचाऊँ,चाह नहीं, सम्राटों के शव,
पर, हे हरि, डाला जाऊँचाह नहीं, देवों के शिर पर,
चढ़ूँ भाग्य पर इठलाऊँ!मुझे तोड़ लेना वनमाली!
उस पथ पर देना तुम फेंक,मातृभूमि पर शीश चढ़ाने
जिस पथ जाएँ वीर अनेक।
***
मैं अपने से डरती हूँ सखि !
पल पर पल चढ़ते जाते हैं,
पद-आहट बिन, रो! चुपचाप
बिना बुलाये आते हैं दिन,
मास, वरस ये अपने-आप;
लोग कहें चढ़ चली उमर में
पर मैं नित्य उतरती हूँ सखि !
मैं अपने से डरती हूँ सखि !
***
Cento:
Meaning– Poetry made up of lines borrowed from a combination of established authors, usually resulting in a change in meaning and a humorous effect. Example:-
गुरु गोविंद दौऊ खड़े , काके लागूँ पाए ; (Kabira)
पर आज कल के दौर में , They just say…’Hi’ || (doc2poet)
***
Wow…excellent
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Thank you Ila Ji:-)
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Today, I learned about couplet and Pandit-ji:)
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🙂
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Nicely described and loved your compositions… 🙂
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Thank you maniparna☺
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I didn’t know they were called couplets ☺ I love using them though.
Great picture you’ve painted there: “It’s like the seed of poetry was always there, the emotions and the motivation watered it and the sapling that emerged was a couplet.” Love it! 👍
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Thank you Miss Andi…I am glad you liked it:-)
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I’m no poet but it is fascinating about how couplets transcend language https://daisywillows.wordpress.com/2016/04/03/crabs-deserve-to-be-drunk-and-walk-sideways/
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@Daisy from
Daisyinthe willows
oopswrong link 😀
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🙂
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You need not be a poet yourself to love poetry:-)
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Very nice…yours are lovely too!
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🙂
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awesome
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Thank you Jyotirmoy:-)
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Some wonderful couplets of yours! Very impressive. And thank you for reminding of the beautiful poem – पुष्प की अभिलाषा by Makhanlal Chaturvedi. I used to love this poem when I was in school. I still do.
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Thank you Beloo…Glad you liked them:-)
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Beautiful compositions 🙂
Best of luck with A-Z challenge 🙂
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Thank you Hargun:-)
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I wish I could read all that you write. My language skills are far too limited – sorry. However, I love to read your thoughtful posts. When I was teaching in a school, the children used to love doing rhyming couplets. We all had so much fun. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you for your feedback Nicola:-) I mostly write in hindi but a few English one will be coming your way shortly. Stay connected:-)
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wah doctor saab…waah.
tomorrow is going to be surprise day again.Either you surprise me or vice versa 😉
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Yup! Looking forward to it too:-)
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your info on the couplet may well be a help in the writing group I run..it is made up of story writers and then a poet showed up who wants to write better poetry..I have no idea..but giving him an exercise in couplets will mean he is not left out….
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I would love that. Thank you:-)
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I suck at hindi poetry. But thanks, I learnt of couplet!
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If you love poetry…it’ll come to you:-)
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I really enjoy going through your poems! And every time I learn something new 🙂
Another great post 🙂
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Thank you Srivi:-)
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Couplets are the simplest rhymes to compose, and capable of expressing the most complex of thoughts.
Well done! 🌹
Sir Leprechaunrabbit 🍀🐰
@leprchaunrabbit
yourrootsareshowingdearie.wordpress.com
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True indeed. Thank you for stopping by:-)
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Wow, totally loved the Cento example!
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Thank you Sreedeep:-)
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Beautiful 🙂
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Thank you:-)
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