Lychees, A Poem By Meena Alexander In Hindi/Urdu Translation Poem by Ravi Kopra

bramda sangeeta tha aasman ki tarah
pathar k bench ta jahan main beth kar paDti thee

main gumany nikal gayi
Yoshino k pahaDoN k beech

ek haath main kitab thee, doosray main thaila akhbar se bhara hua
mausam se thaka hua yahan koi bhi na tha

bazaar se kharid layi the main
lychees 30 rupees ki ek kilo

unki laal tehiniaN patli rassioN se bhandi theeN
gooda unka kabootar k pankhoN sa mulayaam tha

mazay se dhoop mnain, main pak rehi the
sooraj hawaa ko masal raha tha

devdaar k peD kaalay kaalay thay
khan main jaooN ab, ye soch rahi thee

dhauladhar ki chotiaN
baraf se laddi hue theeN

***

Lychees
BY MEENA ALEXANDER
Terrace deep as the sky.
Stone bench where I sit and read,

I wandered by myself
Into the heart of the mountains of Yoshino.

In one hand a book, in the other, a bag made of newsprint—
No weather-beaten bones here

Just lychees bought in the market,
Thirty rupees per kilogram.

Stalks mottled red tied up with string,
Flesh the color of pigeon wings—

Sweet simmering.
Sunlight bruises air

Pine trees blacken.
Where shall I go?

The Dhauladhar peaks
Are covered in snow.