I, the gardeners’s daughter, longed for a mate,
Slowly, slowly, the new spring came.
The apricot tree made a request to God:
I am named ‘the late comer’;
So early though I blossom;
I shall be useful to the peasant at wedding-time.
Slowly,slowly, the new spring came.
The Phrastan tree made a request to God:
I am named ‘the auspicious one’;
Why bear I no fruit?
The peasant stands awaiting my fall,
So that he may use me as a beam for his house roof,
Slowly, slowly, the new spring came.
The Chenar tree made a request to God
I am named ‘the goddess’;
Why bear I no fruit?
Though my cool shade pleases the whole world.
Slowly, slowly, the new spring came,
The willow made a request to God:
I am named ‘the hero’;
Why bear I no fruit?
Alas! in my youth my body becomes hollow.
Slowly, slowly, the new spring came.
The pear tree said before God:
I am named pear and fruit I bear;
I give cool shade as well,
It pleases the Bhavakhar,
Slowly, slowly, the new spring came.
~ ‘Song of the Trees’, translation of a Kashmiri folk song given in ‘Flowering Trees in India’ (1957) by M.S. Randhawa for the section ‘Trees in Indian folk songs’
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| Pear Trees in Blossom. Village Khrew. March 2013. |
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Beautiful. Almighty bless you.