bulbul chhu baraan chaav ...

The bulbul rejoices that winter's gone,

Gay spring has come again.

The spring breeze is all a flutter, sensing

Keen expectancy in the air.

 

Flowers have set up beauty stalls

In the gardens of love.

See what's written on flower petals,

To know what beauty means !

 

The early breeze hinted to the crow:

'Don't waste your time on words !

The meaning does not matter here;

You better learn the art !'

 

Why should men of stature shun

The company of lesser men ?

How does a flower feel at home,

Being in the midst of thorns ?

 

I tried to conceal my inner self,

But it did burst-forth

Like fragrance always issues out,

Tearing the chest of the flower.

 

Gazing hard at all the flowers,

Mistaking each for my beloved,

I found them all silent. The bulbul said,

'Why must you raise a strife ?"

 

Flowers wither in autumn,

But come again in spring.

Life always returns after death;

So leave the fear of death.

 

When summer ends, all flowers take flight

At the sight of the autumn wind;

But you must always remember

That autumn trio does not last.

 

Mahjoor, there is no Kashmiri

Who has recognised you so far.

Those who will know you, except a few,

Have not yet been born.