Columnists
The Month of Aasaarh (Haarh)
[June 15 - July 15]
Poems translated from Punjabi by GURMEET KAUR
Guru Nanak [Raag Tukhaari, GGS: 1108]
In the month of Aasaarh - prime
The sun of Maya
Blazes.
The mind sky
Agonizes.
Earth
Endures the pain.
The soul bride
Parches.
Fire
Dries up the last of dew.
Anguish
Continues.
Sun chases
Critters cry.
The Soul bride
Yearns for shade.
Carrying the baggage of demerits
She sears.
Bearing Naam
She finds the refuge.
Says Nanak:
The blessed one with such a mind
Dies and lives
In his grace.
She remains unscathed
In the month of Aasaarh - prime.
Guru Arjan, [Raag Maajh, GGS: 133]
In month of Aasaarh prime-
Burning
In the separation of
The beloved -
Naam does not dwell.
Forsaking
The giver of life
Seeking solace -
In the worldly mortal.
Destructing
In the love of duality
Unawares of -
Drawing death.
Harvesting
As she planted,
Her destiny
Writ on the forehead.
Squandering
The life-night
She departs
With no hope ahead.
Meeting
The saints of Naam, Lo!
She finds herself
On the path of liberation.
Show Mercy
O Beloved;
She is thirsty
For thy vision.
Supplicates Nanak:
Without You,
There is no other
For the lonesome bride.
Residing
In thy Lotus feet
Her mind pleases -
In the month of Aasaarh - prime.
June 15, 2010
Conversation about this article
1: Michele Gibson (Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada), June 15, 2010, 4:39 PM.
Beautiful. I will not be able to appreciate the wonderful original until I learn Punjabi but this is such a moving translation that I believe Gurmeet must have brought me as close as is possible, until then. Thank you.
2: Gurmeet Kaur (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.), June 17, 2010, 11:46 AM.
Michele ji, So, I guess I should continue translating. Ever since I started doing this, I don't feel like writing the other stuff I used to write. I wasn't sure if anyone is reading my trans-interpretations of gurbani ... but I enjoy doing it immensely. The most amazing thing is that the more I dive deeper to understand it, the richer it gets and at the same time I can relate it to everything else going around me, no matter how superficial it may be. Glad to have you as a reader/ commentator. Means a lot.
3: Inni Kaur (Fairfield, CT, U.S.A.), June 18, 2010, 1:47 PM.
Gurmeet, Let not the silence of the world stop you from translating. The deeper you dive, the rarer the jewels will be. Silence to your trans-interpretations could be because we are in awe. Please continue ...
4: Mlle. S (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.), June 24, 2010, 5:18 AM.
So beautiful ... appreciating it even more here in this valley of Divine Peace.
5: Parkash Kaur (Simi Valley, California, U.S.A.), February 24, 2011, 7:20 PM.
Gurmeet Kaur ji: I am a silent reader but want to say "Thank You".