A translation of the Punjabi poem by Late Shiv Kumar Batalvi
Some trees seem to me like my mother
And some like my sons
Some look like my daughters
And some like my brothers and sisters
Some seem like my father
With leaves sparse, here and there
Some trees look like my grandmother
Feeding her bread to the birds
Some of them look just like my friends
Whom I would go hug and kiss
Only one of them looks quite like my love
Sweet and tender yet full of pain
Some trees falling, I feel like
Resurrecting them with my shoulder
And some so pretty...I could
Kiss them and die!
Some trees, when they sway together
To the winds a blowing
The sweet language of all the trees
I wish I could put into my words.
Sometimes I do dream
Of coming in this world as a tree
Come, if you want to hear my song
While singing amongst my fellow trees.
Should I say...all trees are like my mother?
They give me shade, yet not as much as she.
Arvind Krishna
You know.... this is a poem that has stayed within me since I saw it perched on a beautiful tree outside the Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh. I have taken some very dear friends there to share it. Go read it there and it will melt you even more :)
ReplyDeleteOne of the most powerful Punjabi poems. It is simple, lyrical and moving. Takes one back to one's roots. A good translation, indeed. I also found a u-tube video of the poem, sung by K Deep. It is at the following URL: http://vodpod.com/watch/1292575-rukh-a-symbolic-poem-by-the-great-shiv-kumar-batalvi
ReplyDeletePosting this poem on Earth Day too, good work, Arvind!
ReplyDeleteArvind...your all-round skills are amazing!
ReplyDeleteVivek