"In view of what crime?" (a poem after "Noor")

Life itself comprises    the greatest castigation
in view of what crime    no belated information!
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I've been divvied & diced    into so many portions
which part is for myself    I find no indication!
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Whereas truth qua truth    allows no variation
a lie is so docile    knowing no such limitation!
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No matter if you frame it    in silver or in gold
a mirror's a mirror    holding no confabulation!
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Life itself comprises    the greatest castigation
in view of what crime    no belated information!

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Zindagi say badi saza hi nahin,
Aur kya jurm hai pata hi nahin!

Itnay hison mein bat gaya hoon main,
Meray hisay mein kuch bacha hi nahin!

Sach ghatay ya badey to sach na rahey,
Jhooth ki koi intehaa hi nahin!

Jad do chaandi mein chahey sonay mein,
Aaiana jhooth bolta hi nahin!

Zindagi say badi saza hi nahin,
Aur kya jurm hai pata hi nahin!

- Krishan Bihari `Noor'

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With thanks to Max Babi for his rendering ("transcreation"), which allowed my own riff on same.

"The orchid" by Ni Tsan [translated from the classical Chinese]

The orchid lived   within a lonely valley
its inverted image   limned its own reflection
when no one had   beheld this subtle beauty
the vernal breeze   expelled a little laugh

"Once I went to sit at Cold Mountain" [shi in translation]

Once I went to sit at Cold Mountain
and lingering remained these 30 years

lately coming to call on friends & kin
more than half had vanished under ground

it gradually fades as does the dying candle
long a'flowing like the passing river

this morning   aface a lonely shadow
unwonted tears twainly dangle down


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[Over the years, I've tweaked and polished this translation variously. Here's my latest version. Han Shan (Cold Mountain) is the name of the poet [cira 9th Century AD] as well as the mountain to which he retired for reclusion. His collection comprises around three hundred verses.]