Bhai Vir Singh

Bhai Vir Singh (1872-1957) is remembered as the father of modern Punjabi poetry. In his treatment of nature he is influenced by English Romantic poets like Wordsworth. He finds a reflection of God's glory in the objects of nature.

The Violet

Let my existence remain unnoticed
I bloomed at lower depths
To save myself from the evil eye
I took shelter beneath a stone

I borrowed colour from the sky
Not bright or glaring
Poverty stricken I came on the earth
I drink the dewdrops of the sky
The rays I partake of for my growth

Moonlight keeps my company
We play at night-time
I rejoice in myself
Beneath the canopy of my fragrance
Yes, I avoid during the day
The company of the butterfly

When the wind in its playful mood
Embraces me in gay abandon
I check the movement of my neck
My voice I suppress in my throat

Alas! someone plucks me up soon
The handiwork of a plunderer
My fragrance though meek and mild
Gives me away even then

1 earnestly desire to remain hidden
And leave the world incognito
But my wish will never be fulfilled
Even though I go on imploring.                         Banafsha da Phull

The Trembling Wrist

In a dream I had your glimpse
I embraced you spontaneously
But you were a mere radiance
My wrist kept on trembling.
Instantly my forehead bent down
But your feet eluded it
You were high while low I was
Hence my sheer helplessness.
Then I tried to grip your apparel
But if was like a lightning flash
Ever on its flight
Still I was blessed with its caress
The flash touched the deadened clay
Investing the pores with iridescence
The lightning then soared high
Emanating the dazzling flash.                                 Kambdi Kalaee


Ichha Bal and The Dark Evening

The Poet:
It's evening, the shadows have vanished
O' Ichha Bal! why are you flowing still ?
The streamlet is also rippling as ever
Maintaining its constant flow
The visitors, the gardeners and the birds
All are taking rest
Deep calm prevails all around
The nature enjoys the solitude
The Spring's Reply:
Those who have tasted love
know not what rest is
sleep abandons the besotted eyes
the tears flow day and might
longings push the lovers ahead
their steps know no restrain
the journey ends in lovers' meeting
till then they are on the move.                        Ichha Bal te Dungian Shaman