India, Feb. 28 -- Since time immemorial, suffering, denoting lived anguish of colossal loss, has been the dominant metaphor and emotional register of poetry. Intriguingly, its stand-in expression in the Hindustani dard sets forth an intricate and endless process of splitting, upending, and fulfilment that simultaneously negotiates rejection, self-contempt, resignation, sensual longings, and assimilation. It articulates a complex, unarticulated, and tantalising nagging that lives within. Its cultural, emotional, and aesthetic dimensions, with semantic liberties, are sparklingly showcased by Mir Taqi Mir (1723-1830), often referred to as Khuda-e Sukhan (God of Poetry). His creative negotiations with the world conjure a lingering sense of cu...