Here Is Happiness For Me

With her pet toy in hand and playing, In mother’s lap, a strange smile lurking, To her lullaby whilst listening, Eyes on Ma, at last succumbs to sleep, Here’s happiness for me sound asleep. Their heavy school bags left way aside, Uniforms too thrown on whatso side, Back from bunking class, leave un-applied, Bare bodied when children dance in rain, Here’s happiness for me sans restrain. Dreams and young desires dancing in mind, Two teenagers in tender love blind, At the appointed place do when find And haply together smile their smiles, Here’s happiness to me that beguiles. Dawns a day, and Ma wakes up early, Finds the house bare and rather lonely, And lo, the door-bell rings suddenly, Her daughter and kids hug her in glee, Here is crest of happiness to me. One eve, the sun prepares when to pack, I see grandpa— nigh bent at the back, Nostalgic, playing old songs from rack When breaks into dance that transcends age, That’s happiness to me freed from cage. ______________________________________________ Based on a Gujarati poem by Shyamal Munshi, titled: mane to sukh eman dekhaya, transliteration as follows: ek ramakdun lai mana-gamatun, mana khole hasatun ramatun, mithan halardan sambhaltun, mani same jotun balak unghi jaye, mane to sukh eman dekhaye. bhar bharelan daftar khakhi, ek divas khunaman nakhi, ninshal man pan chutti rakhi, bhai-bandho sau thai ughada bhar varshaman nhaye, mane to sukh eman dekhaye. ichao laine ubheli, ek chokari preme gheli, nishchit sthane pahonchi vaheli, premi ne jotan ni sathe acherun malakaye, mane to sukh eman dekhaye. ek divas ma vaheli jage, ghar khali-kham sunun lage, ghar no bel achanak vage, ‘ne bachhane lai dikari malava avi jaye, mane to sukh eman dekhaye. chho kede thi hoy valela, ek sanj ni dubati vela, dada sahu mitroni bhela, juni filmo yad kari ne junan gito gaye, mane to sukh eman dekhaye. ______________________________________________ Translations | 02.01.14 |