Habba Khatoon (c. 16 CE)
Let’s Go to the Upland Woods, My Friend

Let’s go to the upland woods, my friend
Being gullible, he swallowed whole
Whatever was said to slander me,
Come back, my lover of flowers!

Let’s go down the hill, my friend,
I’d give him the jewels I wear—
What if they cost two coins of gold?
Come back, my lover of flowers!

Let’s go draw water, friend,
The world is lost in sleep and dreams,
While I stay awake to hear from you,
Come back, my lover of flowers!

Translated from the Kashmiri by Triloknath Raina