Analysis of A Prayer
Allama Muhammad Iqbal 1877 (Sialkot, Punjab) – 1938 (Lahore, Punjab)
My invocations are sincere and true,
They form my ablutions and prayers due.
One glance of guide such joy and warmth can
grant,
On marge of stream can bloom the tulip plant.
One has no comrade on Love's journey long
Save fervent zeal, and passion great and
strong.
O God, at gates of rich I do not bow,
You are my dwelling place and nesting
bough.
Your Love in my breast burns like Doomsday
morn,
The cry, He is God, on my lips is born.
Your Love, makes me God, fret with pain and
pine,
You are the only quest and aim of mine.
Without You town appears devoid of life,
When present, same town appears astir with
strife.
For wine of gnosis I request and ask,
To get some dregs I break the cup and glass.
The mystics' gourds and commons' pitchers
wait
For liquor of your Grace and Bounty great.
Against Your godhead I have a genuine
plaint,
For You the Spaceless, while for me restraint.
Both verse and wisdom indicate the way
Which longing face to face can not convey.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
*
The mystic's soul is like the morning breeze:
It freshens and renews life's inner meaning;
An illumined soul can be a shepherd's, who
Could hear the Voice of God at God's
command.
[Translated by Naim Siddiqui]
Not: This poem has been written in the Mosque of Cordoba.
Scheme | AA XBB CDC EFE GHH DII JXJ XX XKK XBX GG X XFAXX X X |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 1110101 1111011 111111011 1 1111110101 111111101 110101010 1 1111111111 111101010 1 11011111 1 0111111111 111111110 1 1101010111 0111010111 110110111 1 111110101 1111110101 010101010 1 1101110101 0111110100 1 110111101 110101001 1101111101 0101110101 1 011110101 11000111010 10101110101 11011111 01 010110010 11101110001110 |
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 1,243 |
Words | 239 |
Sentences | 14 |
Stanzas | 15 |
Stanza Lengths | 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1, 6, 1, 1 |
Lines Amount | 39 |
Letters per line (avg) | 26 |
Words per line (avg) | 6 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 66 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 16 |
Font size:
Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on April 12, 2023
- 1:13 min read
- 91 Views
Citation
Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"A Prayer" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/1557/a-prayer>.
Discuss this Allama Muhammad Iqbal poem analysis with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In