Sohni and her love Mahinwal
by Raj Arumugam
Sohni’s heart pines
for Mahinwal
for she loves
him beyond all things earthly
By day she paints flowers
on the pots her father makes
O Sohni’s heart is always filled with love
And by night
she swims across
with a pot to help her float
and she goes each night thus
to meet her forbidden love
O Mahinwal’s heart
that herder of cattle
his heart too is filled with love
and he has given up his name
and his land
for he is no longer Izzat Baig of Buhkara
but he is simple Mahinwal –
Sohni’s Mahinwal
O so full of love is he
day and night
for the beautiful Sohni
and how will this end?
O river that nurtures us – tell us…
O how will this forbidden love end? –
O fish and cattle and deer
and creatures of the river bank –
tell us, how this love will end…
