Who am I? Poem by Bulleh Shah (1680-1757)

One of my favorites. Was sent the link to the page below by my better half. It has a very good translation!

Have copy-pasted the entire text of the original post on arbitmax because pages have a habit of disappearing on the web :-)

Original Post: ArbitMAX!: August 2008

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Original poem:

Who am I?
Bulleh Shah (1680-1757)

Na maen momin vich maseet aan
Na maen vich kufar diyan reet aan
Na maen paakaan vich paleet aan
Na maen moosa na pharaun.
Bulleh! Ki jaana maen kaun?

Na maen andar ved kitaab aan,
Na vich bhangaan na sharaab aan
Na maen rindaan masat kharaab aan
Na maen jaagan na vich saun.
Bulleh! Ki jaana maen kaun?

Na maen shaadi na ghamnaaki
Na maen vich paleeti paaki
Na maen aabi na maen khaki
Na maen aatish na maen paun
Bulleh! Ki jaana maen kaun?

Na maen arabi na lahori
Na maen hindi shehar nagauri
Na hindu na turak peshawri
Na maen rehnda vich nadaun
Bulleh! Ki jaana maen kaun?

Na maen bheth mazhab da paaya
Ne maen aadam havva jaaya
Na maen apna naam dharaaya
Na maen baitthan na vich bhaun
Bulleh! Ki jaana maen kaun?

Avval aakhir aap nu jaana
Na koi dooja hor pehchaana
Maethon hor na koi siyaana
Bulleh Shah khadda hai kaun?
Bulleh! Ki jaana maen kaun?


Translation:

I am not a believer inside the mosque
nor a pagan disciple of false rites.
I am not the pure amongst the impure
neither Moses nor the Pharaoh.
Bulleh! Who am I?

I am not in the Vedas
neither in opium nor in wine.
I am not in the drunkard's daze
neither asleep, nor awake.
Bulleh! Who am I?

I am neither in happiness nor in sorrow
neither clean, nor filthy.
I am not from water or the earth
neither fire, nor from air, is my birth.
Bulleh! Who am I?

I am not an Arab, I am not from Lahore,
neither am I from the city of Nagaur.
I am not a Hindu, or a Turk from Peshawar
nor do I stay in Nadaun.
Bulleh! Who am I?

I have never understood the point of religion,
I am not born from Adam and Eve,
I am not just the name,
Neither in stillness, nor in motion.
Bulleh! Who am I?

I am the first, I am the last
None other, have I ever known
I am the wisest of them all
Bulleh Shah - who is this standing here?
Bulleh! Who am I?