tab aur ab/ then and now

bachpan mein jab
ikatthe kiya karta tha
patthar, pille, machis ke dibbe sadak se
khush hoke badhata tha sampatti apni
aaj daudta-bhagta hoon jab
naam ke, samman ke, daam ke peeche
kyon nahi pata ab
woh pehli si khushi main

as a child, when
i used to collect
pebbles, puppies, match boxes from the road
and felt joyous at my increasing wealth
today, when i run after
name, fame and money
why don’t i get now
the same happiness as before