قرض کی پیتے تھے مَے لیکن سمجھتے تھے کہ ہاں
Qarz kī piite the mai lekin samajhte the ki haañ
We used to drink wine on credit, yet we believed with certainty
مرزا غالب
قرض کی پیتے تھے مَے لیکن سمجھتے تھے کہ ہاں
Qarz kī piite the mai lekin samajhte the ki haañ
We used to drink wine on credit, yet we believed with certainty
رنگ لاوے گی ہماری فاقہ مستی ایک دن
Raṅg lāvegī hamārī fāqa-mastī ek din
That our joy in destitution would bear fruit one day.
📖Metaphorical & Poetic Meaning
This couplet beautifully encapsulates Ghalib's philosophical outlook, often marked by a blend of realism, optimism, and a defiance of conventional suffering.
Line 1: "We used to drink wine on credit."
This immediately establishes a state of poverty and lack. Drinking wine (mai) often symbolizes seeking pleasure, escapism, or moments of joy. Doing so "on credit" highlights financial hardship – they don't even have money for basic pleasures. However, the crucial part is "yet we believed with certainty" (lekin samajhte the ki haañ). This shows a profound, almost stubborn, conviction despite their circumstances.
Line 2: "That our joy in destitution would bear fruit one day."
The term fāqa-mastī is key here. It literally means "joy/intoxication in starvation/poverty." It describes a carefree, often defiant, attitude of remaining cheerful or absorbed in pleasure (spiritual or otherwise) despite being hungry or destitute. Raṅg lāvegī (will bring color, will bear fruit) implies that this unique attitude, this defiance of sorrow in the face of hardship, will eventually lead to something positive—perhaps a reward, recognition, or a change in fortune.
In essence, the couplet expresses a profound optimism and resilience. Despite being in such dire straits that they had to drink wine on credit, the poet (and his ilk) possessed an unwavering belief that their cheerful endurance and perhaps their artistic integrity (often associated with the "fāqa-mastī" of a poet) would eventually pay off. It's a celebration of finding joy and dignity even in abject poverty, with a hopeful eye towards the future.