Amrita Pritam

Amrita Pritam
This blog explores the poetry of Amrita Pritam. All her original poems are in Punjabi. I've translated them in Hindi. The Hindi translations are relatively straight forward and there are other authors who have translated her work in Hindi. In some cases, where I could, I have translated a few of her poems in English. This is an entirely different task from Hindi translation. I have major reservations and a few misgivings about any attempt to translate poems in general. All of those concerns apply here in full force. I consider these translations as my musings and explorations: they carry no weight and are no substitute for experiencing the poetry in Punjabi. I am acutely aware of the challenges this may pose to even Hindi readers, let alone English ones. I offer no recourse.

Thursday, November 22, 2018

ख़ुश्बू Fragrance ਖੁਸ਼ਬੋ



ख़ुश्बू 

उमरों की यह चिठ्ठी भटकती 
किस्मत हमारी पढ़ न सकी 
मेरे दिल ने साजन का 
पता लिखा था जो 

इस वादी का क्या कहना
इश्क़ का बूटा जहाँ भी उगता 
मीलों तक आती रहती 
बिरहा की खुशबू  

Fragrance

Misplaced is the letter of my life
          for my fate could not recite
The address of my lover
          that my heart had ascribed 

Strange is the valley of love
          for wherever its seed is planted
The air is fragrant for miles 
          with the pain of lovers separated 



 ਖੁਸ਼ਬੋ 


ਉਮਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਇਹ ਚਿੱਠੀ ਰੁਲਦੀ 
ਕਿਸਮਤ ਸਾਡੀ ਪੜ ਨਾ ਸੱਕੀ 
ਸਾਡੇ ਦਿਲ ਨੇ ਸੱਜਣਾ ਦਾ 
ਸਰਨਾਵਾਂ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਜੋ...

ਇਸ ਵਾਦੀ ਨੂੰ ਕੀ ਕੁਝ ਕਹੀਏ 
ਇਸ਼ਕ ਦਾ ਬੂਟਾ ਜਿੱਥੇ ਉੱਗਦਾ 
ਮੀਲਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਿਚ ਆਓਂਦੀ ਰਹਿੰਦੀ 
ਬਿਰਹਾ ਦੀ ਖੁਸ਼ਬੋ 


From poem: ख़ुश्बू  

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