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.

Monday, February 4, 2019

तू नहीं आया ... You have not come...ਤੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਆਇਆ



तू नहीं आया 


आज फिर तारे कह गए 
उमरों के महल अब भी 
हुस्नों के दियें हैं जल रहे 
... तू नहीं आया 

किरणों का समूह कह रहा 
रातों की गहरी नींद में 
अब भी चाँद है जग रहा
... तू नहीं आया  



You have not come


Stars sent a message today:
          The lamp of youth is still kindling 
          in the palace of life
... You have not come


Light beams have come to say:
          The moon is still peaking
          through the slumber of night
... You have not come


ਤੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਆਇਆ 

ਅੱਜ ਫੇਰ ਤਾਰੇ ਕਹਿ ਗਏ 
ਉਮਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਮਹਿਲੀਂ ਅਜੇ ਵੀ 
ਹੁਸਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਦੀਵੇ ਬਲ ਰਹੇ 
... ਤੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਆਇਆ 

ਕਿਰਨਾਂ ਦਾ ਝੁਰਮਟ ਆਖਦਾ 
ਰਾਤਾਂ ਦੀ ਗੂੜੀ ਨੀਂਦ ਚੋਂ 
ਹਾਲੇ ਵੀ ਚਾਨਣ ਜਾਗਦਾ 
... ਤੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਆਇਆ 


-selected verses 

From: Cheternama ਚੇਤੇਰਨਾਮਾ  चेतरनामा 

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