The Tree and the Mendicant

(English Translation: Dr. Madan Gopal Singh )

Rukh te Rishi

(Punjabi in Roman)

 

When you sprout as grass
from the earth,
I'll be close by - a lot like you

Some cow
Will take take us together in a single bite
Together we shall be chewed and swallowed
Lost in the womb of the cow
Drop by drop we shall become milk
Spotless, pure, white.

Even then you'll not be able to find me
We would have merged into each other so much
So much would have
The grass and milk merged
Where the grass ends
And the milk begins
In the cows belly
No one poses such queries
There the distance
between the tree and the mendicant
ends

 

Jadon toon dharti chon
Ghaah bann ke uggengaa
Main tere laag-paas hovaangaa tere jehaa

Koi gau
Sannu dohaan nun kaththeyaan hi burk maaregi
Dohen hi kaththe aseen chiththe nigle jaanvaange
Gau de garabh vich gumme guaache
Aseen bannange boond boond duddh
Chitta safaid bemail

Ohdon vee tun mainun labh nahin sakkengaa
Kyunki aseen ik duje vich rache miche hovaange
Rache miche honnge
Ghaah ate duddh
Kiththe gaah mukdaa hai
Te duddh shuru ho jaandaa hai
Gau de diddh vich
Eho jahiyaan puchhaan koi nahin puchhdaa
Ohthe mukk jaandaa hai
Rukh ate rishi vichlaa faaslaa