Maye ni main ik shikra yaar manaya

ਮਾਏ ਨੀ ਮੈਂ ਇਕ ਸ਼ਿਕਰਾ ਯਾਰ ਮਨਾਯਾ 

This is from one of my favorite poets of all times, Shiv Kumar Batalvi. Batalvi was known for his creations of love & pathos. The way he weaved bereavement & sorrow is beyond comparison. This one creation is from the collection "Birah da Sultan" and is said to have written by him for his ex-girlfriend. He loved the girl a lot, but she moved abroad and got married. The poem was written when the girl bore her first child.

Maye ni maye, main ik shikra yaar banaya

O mother, I fell in love with a hawk...

Ohde sir te kalgi

Ohde pairin chanjhar

O chog chugenda aaya

He had a plume on his head,

and anklets in his feet,

came pecking for grains...

(He was pretty looking, attractive & frivolously came this side)

Ik ohde roop di dhup tikheri

dooja mehkan da tirhaya

One was his appearance had the radiance of sunlight,

Two, his body smelled as if immersed in perfume...

(He had an amazing aura & aroma)

Teeja ohda rang gulabi

O kise gori maan da jaya

Three, his skin color, that of rose,

He was child of a fair mother...

(He was so good looking, didn't seem from this place; a foreigner)

Ishqe da ik palang nawari

Ve assan chanania vich daya

I made a bed of love,

and spread it in moonlight...

(I fantasized of a life of love with him)

Tan di chadar ho gayi meli

Os pair jaan palange paya

The sheet of my body got soiled,

when he touched it with his feet...

Dukhan mere naina de koye

Te vich harr hanjuan da aaya

Hollows of my eyes hurt,

and they are flooded with tears...

Sari raat gyi vich sochan

Os ae ki zulm kamaya

All night I kept awake,

wondering what did I do to earn this pain...

Subah savere layni vatna

We assan mal mal os navaya

Early morning I made a scrub paste,

and scrubbed and bathed him...

Dehi de vichon niklan chingan

Ni sada hath gaya kumlaya

His body exuded burning dust,

my hands got ragged and burnt...

(Even while I was caring for him, he kept hurting me)

Churi kuttan ta oh kaunda naahi

Ve assan dil da maas khawaya

He didn't eat the food I cooked for him with love,

so I served him the flesh of my heart...

(He won't accept my love, instead, keep picking on my heart)

Ik uddari aisi mari

O murr watni na aaya

He took a long flight,

And never came back here...

(After all this, he left, to never come back)

Maye ni main ik shikra yaar banaya

Essence: This is a narration of a lost, betrayed, & hurt lover, telling how he loved someone so much but got extreme pain in return

Akhiyan ch tu vasda

ਅਖਿਯਾਂ ਚ ਤੂ ਵਸਦਾ

Surinder Kaur was one of the most popular (and brilliant) punjabi singer of her times. She, and her sister Parkash Kaur were known for their folk songs and are still sung at almost every occasion in Punjab.

ehna akhiyaN ch pava kive kajala ve.

akhiyaN ch tu vasda

ehna akhiya ch pava kive kajala ve

akhiayaN ch tu vasda..

How do I put kajal (kohl) in these eyes,

you live in these eyes...

(symbolic expression of love)

har vele channa mera tere val moonh ve..

har vale channa mera tere val moonh ve..

All the time I keep looking at you (your direction)

buliyaN te naa tera akhiyaN ch tu ve..akhiyaN ch tu ve..

Your name is always on my lips and you are in my eyes

jadoN hasdi bhulekha mainu penda ve haseya ch tu hasda

jadoN hasdi bhulekha mainu penda ve haseya ch tu hasda..

Whenever I laugh, it seems it's you, in my laughter (reason of my happiness)

lammiya c wattaN channa nere nere aya tu..

lammiya c wattaN channa nere nere aya tu..

After a lot of wait (in life), you came close to me

akhiyaN de raiN aake dil ch samaya tu..

dil ch samaya tu..

You made way into my heart through my eyes

jad puchnia pyar diya gallaN ve houli houli tu dasda..

When I ask you of love (if you love me), you talk of it slowly (tease me)

ehna akhiyaN ch pava kive kajala ve akhiyaN ch tu vasda..

masa masa jindari maiN pyar vich rangi ve

masa masa jindari maiN pyar vich rangi ve..

With great difficulty I've colored my life in love

(Finally I've fallen in love)

ajj mainu japada maiN tere naal mangi ve..

tere naal mangi ve..

Today I'm told, I'm committed (attached/ engaged) to you

ajj khushiyaN da ho gya swera ve gam sathoN door nasda..

It's a dawn of happiness; now sorrow is far from us

ehna akhiayaN ch pava kive kajala ve akhiyaN ch tu vasda..

ehna akhiyaN ch pava kive kajala...

ve ehna akhiyaN ch pava kive kajala ve akhiyaN ch tu vasda..

ve akhiyaN ch tu vasda..

oye akhiyaN ch tu vasda..

Essence: It's a love song. The girl is talking to her lover expressing how she fell in love with him and now he's a part of her. The ending talks of finally getting together and promises of a happy life ahead :)