Water, falling water. Filling my eyes, emptying my slumbers. Water coming down Those waterfalls, skirting the mountains.

Neither do I remember anyone Nor does my blood weep.

He used to sit In my eyes after Waking up Which country Did he leave for?

Neither does anyone leave for countries afar Nor do I remember anyone.

The evening lamps Were yet to open their eyes And the night had already Left them behind, ravished & blinded.

A pile of perfumed firewood, My body was yet to be used. But the night had already torched it Leaving behind to a heap of coal.

Neither does anyone burns here. Nor do I remember anyone.

O Heart, Don’t complain of your loneliness Tonight, to anyone else For everyone else too is alone.

Second version. Translated from Hindi

Neither do I remember anyone Nor does anyone make my blood weep.

He used to sit In my eyes after Waking. Which country Did he leave for?

Now none leaves for countries afar Nor do I remember anyone.

The evening lamps Were yet to open their eyes And the night had already Left them behind, blinded.

My body was yet to be used, A pile of translucent cordwood. But the night had already torched it, leaving behind a heap of coal.

Now none burns here. Neither do I remember anyone.

Translated from Hindi. 2004:01:09 17:30 Atlanta

How slowly the tinders smolder On this night of exile? Is this way to live? Or is this A way to waste away?

With broken bangles I try to patch my slashed wrists. What is that I had forgotten, In yesterday’s lane, that tonight my feet lead me there again?

Oh my feet must be blind! They don’t see, this is the road That leads to that home Where even my shadow Refuses to follow my body! Where even as it is light It is always dark.

The tinders smolder. The night is exiled.

A rough translation of Gulzar's lyric "Yaara Seeli Seeli" from the movie "Lekin".