Kangra Folk Song

Flowers blossom in the flower garden,
the pretty woman blossoms
in her own home.

     On the day that you set off for employment,
     locks were put on the palace house, my love.

Locks were put on the palace house,
marigolds weathered in the garden, my love.

     Twelve years pass by,
     you never think of me, my love.

I sew men's clothes
And mount a gray horse, my love.

I go forward where three men sit in a shop
pondering over me, my love.

     'Shopkeepers sitting around in a shop,
     what discussion are you having?' My love.

     'One says you are a man,
     another says you are a woman.' My love.

Jumping off the horse, the pretty woman
grabs his arm,
then sits him on the horse.

She spurs the horse, turns it around,
bring him home, my love.

Locks open on the palace house,
marigolds blossom in the garden, my love.

Marigolds blossom in the marigold garden,
the pretty woman blossoms in her own home..


--Anon
Translated by Kirin Narayan