Ben's Ghazal Information

Components of a Ghazal

Couplets: Ghazals are composed of at least 5 couplets and no more than 15 couplets. All couplets must have the same amount of syllables in it. Each couplet must be different in subject, theme, and tone. As a result, a ghazal is composed of many couplets that work independently, but sound best as a whole.

Radif: The radif is the word or phrase that gets repeated at the end of every other line. Additionally, both lines in the first couplet end with the radif.

Qafia: The qafia is the word preceding the radif. Each qafia must be different, but they must all rhyme.

                e.g. But howling I became an ever more an unheard person…

                        The mirror’s not convincing – that at best inferred person.

Person is the radif, while unheard and inferred are the qafias.