Honored to say that “Mehfil” Is Poem of the Week at Split This Rock! As someone who is just beginning to perform, I think often about Farida Khanum and Iqbal Bano–their grace, their ease as they move between notes. I also think about the singer must remove herself from the concept of the ghazal beloved in order to sing about her, but also how the figures intertwine in my imagination.
In January 2023, I had the chance to perform at the esteemed poet Abdul Manan’s home, where there was indeed a mirrored cushion and a shama-e-mehfil/candle of the gathering was placed before me. “Mehfil” is about the beauty of that gathering and the beauty of the tradition I am entering.
You can listen to the audio recording of the poem here.
Adeeba Shahid Talukder 