Hindi Original:
Ab Aankhon Mein Neend Kahaan?
Wo to bachpan tha jab so jaate the,
Ab to jaane kaisi fikr sataati hai.
Wo to bachpan tha jab kha paate the,
Ab to motaape ki fikr sataati hai.
Wo to bachpan tha jab khwaab sajaate the,
Ab to saari duniya berang lagti hai.
Wo to bachpan tha jab sab apne the,
Ab to duniya dushman nazar aati hai.
Wo to bachpan tha jab khush raha karte the,
Ab to barson puraana duhkh sataata hai...
Wo to bachpan tha jab bhavishya ki chinta na thi,
Ab to beete ateet ka kabhi na khatm hone waala khed hai...
Here's the translation:
Where Has The Sleep Gone From My Eyes?
That was childhood, when I could sleep,
Now, worries keep me awake.
That was childhood, when I could eat,
Now, fears of weight gain haunt me.
That was childhood, when I'd weave dreams,
Now, the whole world seems colorless.
That was childhood, when everyone was my own,
Now, the world seems like an enemy.
That was childhood, when I was always happy,
Now, decades of sorrow haunt me...
That was childhood, when I didn't worry about the future,
Now, the unending sorrow of the past haunts me...
My HP Poem #2037
©Atul Kaushal