بُلّھے شاہBULLEH SHAHTHE LIVING VERSE
FROM THE WORDS OF BULLEH SHAH

Katt Kure Na Vatt Kure

Spin, Girl, Do Not Wander

Two ways into the same verse. Tap a line to find its echo.

Spin, girl—do not drift away.

कत्त कुड़े ना वत्त कुड़े ।

Lift the spool and store your thread.

छल्ली लाह भड़ोले घत्त कुड़े ।

Spin one roll, then another; you need not go unclothed.

जे पूनी पूनी कत्तेंगी, तां नंगी मूल ना वत्तेंगी,

A hundred years of spinning—the crow may strike at once.

सै वर्हआं दे जे कत्तेंगी, तां काग मारेगा झट कुड़े ।

Spin, girl—do not drift away.

कत्त कुड़े ना वत्त कुड़े ।

If you let the days slip by and gathered no spun thread,

विच गफ़लत जे तैं दिन जाले, कत्त के कुझ ना ल्यु संभाले.

what will you bring your husband? How will you be received?

बाझों गुन शहु आपने नाले, तेरी क्यों कर होसी गत्त कुड़े ।

Spin, girl—do not drift away.

कत्त कुड़े ना वत्त कुड़े ।

The wedding ties are bound; still you have not awakened.

मां प्यो तेरे गंढीं पाईआं, अजे ना तैनूं सुरतां आईआं,

Few days remain, your joys draw to an end; you will not return to your parents' home.

दिन थोड़े ते चाय मकाईआं, ना आसें पेके वत्त कुड़े ।

Spin, girl—do not drift away.

कत्त कुड़े ना वत्त कुड़े ।

If you arrive with empty hands, who will welcome you?

जे दाज वेहूनी जावेंगी, तां किसे भली ना भावेंगी,

How will you please your love? Hear what the faqirs advise.

ओथे शहु नूं किवें रीझावेंगी, कुझ लै फ़करां दी मत्त कुड़े ।

Spin, girl—do not drift away.

कत्त कुड़े ना वत्त कुड़े ।

Your friends have coloured their wedding cloth and dressed in red.

तेरे नाल दियां दाज रंगाए नी, ओहनां सूहे सालू पाए नी,

Why walk the other way? You will feel the burning there.

तूं पैर उलटे क्यों चाए नी, जा ओथे लग्गी तत्त कुड़े ।

Spin, girl—do not drift away.

कत्त कुड़े ना वत्त कुड़े ।

When Bulleh's love comes home, every ornament shines.

बुल्ल्हा शहु घर आपने आवे, चूड़ा बीड़ा सभ सुहावे,

Bring worth, and find his arms; without it, weep blood-red tears.

गुन होसी तां गले लगावे, नहीं रोसें नैणीं रत्त कुड़े ।

Spin, girl—do not drift away.

कत्त कुड़े ना वत्त कुड़े ।

بلھے شاہ
— 64 —
THE POEM, GIVEN VOICE

One verse. Many voices.

Stay with the words.
Then hear how they travel.

No corroborated recording in the archive yet.

Players load only when you choose to listen. Performances can use excerpts or combine poems.

ANOTHER PAGE TO TURNKaun Aia Pahin Libas Kure
→