Maye ni Maye
By Ratnendra Pandey1
Maye ni maye mere geetan de nainan vich birhon di radak pave
[mother O mother! like rub of a tiny piece of stone beneath eyelid, separation is hurting my songs’ eyes.] /eyes of song has ache of separation
2
adhi adhi raati uth ron moye mittran nu maye sanu neend na pave
[To grief the of my friend, I get up in the middle of night. O mother, I can not fall asleep.]
3
bhen bhen sugandhiyan ch bhannah phehe chanani de tavin sadi peer na saven
[I dip (the wound) in various fragrances and wrap moonlight around it (as a bandage). Still, the pain does not ease.]
4
kose kose sahwan di main karan je takor maye sagon sanu khan nu pave
[I blow a gentle warm breathe over (the wound) to soothe the pain. O mother, the wound, instead, pounces back on me to bite.]
5
aape ni balri main halle aap mattan jogi matt kehra es nu dave
[I am a young boy/girl in a need of advice. Who will come forward to advise her?]
6
akh su maye ehnu rove bulh chith ke nee jagg kithe sund na lave
[Tell him/her to weep with lips shut tight lest the world hears him/her crying.]
7
aankh su ni khye laye tuk hijjran da pakkiya lekhan de nee puthre tave
[Ask him/her to eat the bite of separation baked by destiny on a flipped girdle.]
[Metaphorically, separation is equated with an improperly baked loaf of bread.]
8
Chatt lai tarel looni gaman de gulab tonni kaalje nu hausla rahve.
[Lick the salty liquid oozing out of roses of sufferings to give heart courage to bear pain.]
9
Kehriyan saperiyan ton manga kunj mel di main mel di koi kunj na dave.
[Which snake keeper has a skin that does not peel off the snake's body ? No one is giving me a skin that stays with the body forever.]
[Metaphorically, snake’s skin is equated with separation that is inevitable.]
10
Keda ehna damman diyan lobhiyan de daran utte wang khada jogiya rahve
[Like an ascetic, who will beg at the door of the greedy people to pay such a huge price?]
11
peere ni peere pyar aisi titli hai jehdi sada sool te bahve.
[O pain, Love is like a butterfly nailed to a cross forever.]
12
pyar aisa bhaur hai ni jihde kolon vaashna vi lakhan kohan door hi rahe
[Love is such a bee from whom lechery stays a millions of miles away.]
13
pyar oh mahal hai nee jehde wich pakhuwaan de bajh kujh hor na rahe
[Love is a palace where no one but the souls live.]
14
pyar aisa aangna hai jehde wich ni vaslan da ratra na palangh dhave
[Love is such a courtyard where the bed of nuptial night is never laid.]
15
akh maye adhi adhi raati moye mittran de uchi uchi naam na lave
[Tell him/her not to take the names of dead friend aloud in the middle of the night.]
16
mate sade moyan pichhon jag ye shreekra nee geetan nu vi chandra kahve.
[I am afraid that after I am dead, this vicious world would label my song as evil.]