Ma, can I fly away? (चिड़िया और चुरुंगन)

(चिड़िया और चुरुंगन, श्री हरिवंश राय बच्चन (translated for a friend))

The lil’ birdie hopped out of the nest-

I saw the branches swaying in the wind,
I heard the rustling of the leaves,
And eavesdropped on the leaves whispering to each other;

“Ma, can I fly away?”
“No my dear, just wait wee bit more.”

I hopped from branch to branch,
I saw the delicate buds, and saw them bloom into flowers,
I flew to the higher branches, and saw the quivering tendrils,
I hopped to the lower branches, and saw the mighty gnarled roots.

“Ma, can I fly away?”
“No my dear, just wait a wee bit more.”

I learned to recognise- the raw fruits from the ripe ones
I ate some, I dropped some others,
And I felt, I could hear my buddies call out for me,
Friends who wanted to share with me, to sing with him.

“Ma, can I fly away?”
“No my dear, just wait a wee bit more.”

I can fly from tree to tree, I can swoop down to the earth,
I can spot a grain flying in the sky,
I know a good grain from a bad one.

“Ma, can I fly away?”
“No my dear, just wait a wee bit more.”

The clear blue sky beckons me,
Someone deep inside urges me to take flight.

“Ma, do I know how to fly?”
“Yes, your wings are strong, they can take the wind,
Your are grown up and ready to take on the world”

 

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