Where R You From?
by Wazir Patarft Kiran Sandhu
ਤੇਰਾ ਸੁਣਿਆ ਲਾਹੌਰ ਤੱਕ ਨਾਮ ਚੱਲਦਾ
terA suNiA lAhaura takka nAma challadA
I’ve heard your name echoes all the way to Lahore
ਜੱਟ ਵੇ ਤੂੰ ਲੱਗਦਾ ਦੁਆਬੇ ਵੱਲ ਦਾ
jaTTa ve tUM laggadA duAbe valla dA
O [Jatt: a member of the land-owning agricultural community known for pride and lifestyle], you seem to hail from the [Doaba: the fertile region between the Beas and Sutlej rivers] side
ਓ ਮੁੱਛ ਫੁੱਟ ਗੱਭਰੂ ਤੂੰ ਸ਼ੈਲ ਲੱਗਦੈ
o muchCha phuTTa gabbharU tUM sa਼aila laggadai
With that budding mustache, you look like a fine young man
ਬੰਨ੍ਹੀ ਟੇਢੀ ਪੱਗ ਤੂੰ ਮਝੈਲ ਲੱਗਦੈ
baMnhI TeDhI pagga tUM majhaila laggadai
With your turban tied at a rakish tilt, you look like a [Majhail: a native of the Majha region, known for being valiant and hardy]
ਬੋਲੀ ਤੇਰੀ ਮਾਲਵੇ ਦੇ ਗੁੜ ਵਰਗੀ
bolI terI mAlave de gu.Da varagI
Your speech is as sweet as the [Jaggery] of [Malwa: the largest region of Punjab, known for its distinct dialect and cotton belt]
ਬਸ ਅੱਖ ਦਾ ਹੀ ਜ਼ਹਿਰੀ ਜਾਪਦੈ
basa akkha dA hI ja਼hirI jApadai
Only the gaze of your eyes seems lethal and poisonous
ਤੇਰਾ ਕਿਹੜਾ ਗਰਾਂ ਮੁਟਿਆਰ ਪੁੱਛਦੀ
terA kiha.DA garAM muTiAra puchChadI
This [Kudi: girl/maiden] asks, which village do you belong to?
ਉਂਝ ਟੌਹਰ ਤੋਂ ਤਾਂ ਸ਼ਹਿਰੀ ਜਾਪਦੈ
uMjha Tauhara toM tAM sa਼hirI jApadai
Though from your [Taur: stately pride/swagger], you appear to be a city-dweller
ਵੇ ਤੂੰ ਟੌਹਰ ਤੋਂ ਤਾਂ ਸ਼ਹਿਰੀ ਜਾਪਦੈ
ve tUM Tauhara toM tAM sa਼hirI jApadai
Yes, from your [Taur: stately pride/swagger], you appear to be a city-dweller