translating shiv kumar batalvi: kabraan udeekdiyaan

a humble attempt at translating a poem by shiv kumar batalvi

song

it is peak noon overhead

and my shadow’s almost disappeared

the grave awaits me like mothers

await their sons dear

the ground of my life is seared

and in my being as a tree alone

there is the dusty lull of grief

and stormy winds of sorrow blow

what strange wretched tree am i

whose own shade has eaten it clear

the grave awaits me like mothers

await their sons dear

in longing burn

dry bread and choori dry

my time is almost at an end

but no end to our separation nigh

these wretched crows they lied to me

to the content of the black hearts of theirs

the grave awaits me like mothers

await their sons dear

people have heard my songs

but no one has known my pains

lakhs have kissed my forehead

but no one recognized my face

today from this face i

sit trying to hide my own self here

the grave awaits me like mothers

await their sons dear

it is peak noon overhead

and my shadow’s almost disappeared