Laila and Majnoon the legendry lovers put in modern perspective.

 by the poet Akbar Allahabadi

Whispered Mother of Laila to Majnoon

Son! If you pass the M.A., soon

Without more ado, I will marry Laila to you                                         

And be gracious mother in law, to you too

Sayeth Majnoon;  Pity old woman!  You do not differentiate

The baloney and the ambience passionate

Between the natural ardour of an admirer

And the tedious explanations of the lecturer

What has gone wrong with you! Thou lady old

A deer is not made to carry load

Indeed poor appreciation of my personality

Like Harchran Das, I cannot be

I come to sacrifice my heart, and my intent make plain

But refuse to let you con me or strain my brain

If this be the condition of engagement

With hope and regret, I tender, herewith, my resignation

Lucknow Mangos-Akbar Alahabadi

Neither memo nor no dispatch mate send,

In this festive season only mangoes send.

For awhile I will enjoy and devour,

So twenty be ripen and ten not mature.

You know the address of yours truly ,

Send the consignment to me directly .

Hope not, you convey in reply,

It shall be done but mail the cash firstly.

Akbar Alahabadi-shayari-translation

(Alas, Curzon has done it!)

Watch the mug of the womanly guys,

Esteem men by their fashionable ways.

If truth be told, at the storey top, people, lightened,

Campaign with the beard began, with the moustache concluded.