do bhaino ka koee bhai na tha
uno nay ek resham ka bana liya
safed aur laal resham ka
uski kamar ke liyay
ek lakdi ki tehni laggaee
kaali ankhon ke liye do heeray
aanknon ke oopar do leechain
nanhay-nanhay danton ke liye
ek motion ki maala banaee
usko fir shed aur shakar khilaaee
uno nay usay kaha:
pehlay khaa lay, khaa lay aur fir bol.
-tr. Ravi Kopra
In Punjabi
do bhainan da koee bhra nahin si,
una ik resham da bada liya
safed tay laal resham da.
us di kamar leyi
una ik lakdi di tehni lagaaee.
kaalian akhan leyi do heeray.
akhaan uttay do leechan.
nikkay-nikkay dandaan leyi
una ik motian di maala banaee.
ohnu una gud khaan leyi ditta,
tay shed vi ditta.
tay kiha:
pehlay kha lai, kha lai, tay fir bol.
-tr. Ravi Kopra
translated from the following Charles Simic’s English translation
of an unknown poet in an unknown era:
Brotherless Sisters
Two sisters who had no brother
Made one of silk to share
Of white silk and of red.
For his waist they used barberry wood,
Black eyes, two precious stones.
For eyebrows sea leeches.
Tiny teeth a string of pearls.
They fed him sugar and honey sweet
And told him: Now eat and then speak.
-Charles Simic
The original poem is in Serbian