The Earth Is Not an Old Woman

The earth is not an old woman-

O corn of wheat!

O flower turned cotton!

Earth is not old!

She has stood up again

With new robes.

This our earth

Is a cow who has given birth to a calf,

She is happy

She wants that all her milk be

Poured in the little mouth of the new-born.

She seems as if all her udders are full,

All her nerves are eager to give

As if a musical instrument is well-tuned,

For a new melody.

The earth is not old.

xx Ok

The milk is ever fresh

Whenever any woman

Gives birth to a child,

The body becomes green,

As in spring there is youthfulness;

Again the breasts are full of milk

As if new color is filled

In the parting of the hair of Usha!

Its taste is new,

The wheat is ever new,

The milk is ever fresh.

The earth is not barren and old

O corn of wheat

O flowering cotton!

The earth is not old.

Translated from the Punjabi by P. Machwe

Usha: The goddess of dawn.

Hindu women apply vermilion powder to the central parting of the hair.