ट्राफिक सिग्नल / Traffic Signal, by Sh.Gulzar

This morning, came across this poem in the book 'Neglected Poems', a collection of poems by Sh.Gulzar. Was pleasantly surprised to find the theme very similar to my humble work, 'Guilty Coins'. Happy to see that one of my poems is matching the wavelength of a great poet himself.  :-)

ट्राफिक सिग्नल
होंट हिलते हैं भिकारी के, सुनाई नहीं देता
हाथ के लफ़ज उछालते हैं, वो कुछ बोल रहा हैं
थपथपाता हैं हर इक कार का शीशा आकर
और उजलत में हैं
ट्राफिक के सिग्नल पे नज़र हैं!

'चेंज' हैं तो सही
कौन इस गर्मी में अब कार का शीशा खोले
अगले सिग्नल पे सही
रोज़ कुछ देना ज़रूरी हैं, खुदा राज़ी रहे!


Traffic Signal (English translation of the same, by Sh.Pavan K.Varma)

The beggar's lip move, but can't be heard
Words, formed by hands, spring up
Indicating that something is being said.
He taps the panes of every car
And is in a hurry
His eyes are on the traffic signal.

I have some change
But in this heat who wants to open the window
At the next signal then...
God be pleased, something must be donated every day!