A Visit to the Asylum - Edna St.Vincent Millay

Once from a big, big building,
When I was small, small,
The queer folk in the windows
Would smile at me and call.
And in the hard wee gardens
Such pleasant men would hoe:
"Sir, may we touch the little girl's hair!" --
It was so red, you know.

They cut me colored asters
With shears so sharp and neat,
They brought me grapes and plums and pears
And pretty cakes to eat.

And out of all the windows,
No matter where we went,
The merriest eyes would follow me
And make me compliment.

There were a thousand windows,
All latticed up and down.
And up to all the windows,
When we went back to town,

The queer folk put their faces,
As gentle as could be;
"Come again, little girl!" they called, and I
Called back, "You come see me!"


~Edna St.Vincent Millay (1852-1950)

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Hindi/Urdu version

Ek Pagal Khhanay Ko Dekhnay Jaana


Ek bahut badi see building se,
Jab main bahut chhotee thee,
Paglay log khirkeeon se
Mujh par muskratay hooay pukartay thay.

Aur chhotay se baghichhon main
Yeh khusdil aadmee ghas kat-tay thay:
“Baboo jee, ejazzat hai kay main chhoon loon
Is chhotee see bachhi kay laal baal!”

Woh mujay raang-baraangi aster kay phool
Tez aur saaf kaincheeon se kaat kat kar dettay thay,
Woh mujh ko angoor, plums, naash paati
Aur sunder se cake khhanay ko dehtay thay.


Aur sub khirkeeon say
Jahan bhi main jaati thee
Hasti ankhem mujhe dekhtee theen
Aur mujhe khushee kee baataen kehtee theen.

Wahan par ek hazzar khirkeean theen
Sabhi main jaali laggee hooeeyee,
Neechay se oopar tak,
Jaab hum shehar main jattay thay.

Paglay se log jaalee ke phichhay
Komal se moohn rakh kar kehytay thay:
“Phir aana, chhoti se bittya!” aur main kehti thee:
“Ab tum aaoo mujhe milnay ko!”