Kitni aayee aur gayee pee
Is madiralaya mein haala,
Toot chuki ab tak kine hi
madak pyalon kee maala,
                Kitne saaki apna apna
                Kaam khatam kar door gaye,
Kitne peene waale aaye,
Kintu wahi hai madhushala.

( Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Madhushala)

(Complete Madhushala in Devnagri is available on my "Writings Page". Check out the section "Hindi Poems by Others")

Literal Translation (To the extent I could do it)

So much of wine has come and has been drunk in this wine-shop, so many intoxicating wine-glasses have been broken down, so many wine-maids have done their jobs and gone away, so many drinkers came, but the tavern is still the same.

Categories: Excerpts