Rukh (trees)

This poem is written by the Punjabi poet Shiv Kumar Batalwi who died at the age of 36 in a hospital.  It is believed, he wrote this poem looking at the trees outside the window of his hospital room.

Kuj rukh mennu, put lagde ne,

Some of these trees look like (my) sons to me

 Kuj rukh lagde maavaan. 
Some trees look like mothers

Kuj rukh noohaan dheeyaan lagde

Some trees look like (my) daughters-in-law and daughters

 Kuj rukh vaang bharaavaan. 
Some trees look like (my) brothers

Kuj rukh mere bapay vakan,

Some trees look like my father

 Patar taavaan taavaan.

Who possess few/sparse leaves (old age)

Kuj rukh meri daadi varge

Some trees are like my grandma

Choori paavan kaavaan.

Feeding choori to the ravens ("choori" is a sweet treat made from unleavened bread)

Kuj rukh yaaraan varge lagday

Some trees look like my (soul-mate) friends

Chumma te gall laavaan, (I would) kiss and hold them close to my heart

Kuj rukh mera dil karda ai

(Looking at) some of these trees I feel pulled to

Modde chukk khiddaavaan. 
Raise them to my shoulders and play with them (like I would with little children)

 

Ik meri mehbooba vaakan,

One looks like my beloved

Mittha atey dukhaavaan. 
Sweet and painful

Ik rukh mera jee karda ai  (Looking at) one of these trees I feel pulled to

Chumma te mar jaavaan.

Kiss and end my life

Kuj rukh jad vi ral ke jhooman 
Some trees when they get together and sway

Tej vagan jad vaavaan
In the flowing breezes

Saavi boli sab rukhaan di Dil karda likh jaavan 
 I feel impelled before I leave to transcribe this verdant language of all the trees

Mera vi eh dil karda ai Rukh di joone aavaan.
I wish then to be reincarnated as a tree

Je tussaan mera geet hai sunana, Maen rukhaan vich gaavaan.

(Then) if you wish to hear my songs, you will hear me sing in the trees

Rukh taa meri ma varge ne, Jyun rukhaan diyan chhaavaan.

The trees are like my mother, providing shade (loving embrace, solace)