Two Poems By The Chinese Poet Bai Juyi In Hindi/Urdu Translation Poem by Ravi Kopra

Ghaas

ghaas fir nikal aaya hai
ye hamesha nikal aata hai
ghaas ki cHuti kabhi nahin hoti
har saal ye nikal aata hai
is k oopar pathar tum laga nahin saktay
ye footpath se nikal kar aa jaata hai
main milooN ga tumain jab main chahooN ga
muje phone na karna, na hi khat likhna



[...]



patjaD ki barsaati raat main

main jaanta tha us booDay ko
jo wahan rehta tha
imarat ka vo maalik tha
ghar uska aalishaan tha
picHlay saal, november ki ek barsaati raat
jo vo soya to fir kabhi na utha.
kya karaiN gay uski building ko
ab main sochta rehta hoon.


[...]



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Four Poems
Bai Juyi

Grass

The grass is back, it always comes back.
This grass you cannot get rid of, year after year after year.
Can't pave over it, it'll come back through the sidewalk.
I'll see you when I see you. You don't call, you don't write.





The Bloom is not a Bloom

You call these flowers? You call this perfume?
I wasn't expecting company.
How long are you in town? Next time then.




Sleeping on a Night of Autumn Rain

I knew the guy that lived there, an old man.
Owned the building. Beautiful home.
Last November, rainy night.
Went to sleep and never woke up.
I wonder what they'll do with the building.





Remembering South of the River

I loved it across the river. They knew me over there.
Red, red flowers at sunrise. Green water in the spring.
You don't forget that.

-translated from the Chinese by Joey Schwartzman