rumi

yes, India made legal gender change impossible but the doctor down the street who gives me my T shots in a clinic so small that it's just two rooms was excited for me when she said my voice had dropped yes, India made legal gender change impossible but the receptionist who could see that I was a man didn't bat an eyelash when I asked to see the gynecologist and called me sir when he asked how I wanted to pay yes, India made legal gender change impossible but the barber cuts my hair exactly how I want it and never gave me strange looks for being in a men's salon not even back when I didn't pass as one

This is back on my dash! And listen, I love to see Amir Khusrau getting appreciation, but this translation ignores a lot. The original rhymes! And scans! And does playful things with register! And conveys a tone of affectionate banter between the two speakers, not least because it has them both addressing each other as sakhi (translated above as “girl”) in the last two lines. I think taking some liberties with line order is worth it to preserve more of the rest—and I think there’s a better translation of sakhi. And so:

Thanks @wellpardonme for sending this to me!

I’m pretty sure sakhi means “friend” or “companion” though in hindavi, the original language of this poem. It doesn’t literally translate to “bitch” (although i like the way it’s translated!) Affectionate, yes, but not in the way we translate profanity into affection to call our friends “bitch”. It’s like “GIRRRRLLLLL” Source: i speak urdu and hindi

All true and valid! As is probably obvious from the translation itself, my tendencies are to prioritize localization and register unless the context or audience demands a more literal translation. (A more detailed write-up of my translation process is here.)

Cool! I got the trans flag! I actually am trans!

This is back on my dash! And listen, I love to see Amir Khusrau getting appreciation, but this translation ignores a lot. The original rhymes! And scans! And does playful things with register! And conveys a tone of affectionate banter between the two speakers, not least because it has them both addressing each other as sakhi (translated above as “girl”) in the last two lines. I think taking some liberties with line order is worth it to preserve more of the rest—and I think there’s a better translation of sakhi. And so:

Thanks @wellpardonme for sending this to me!

I'm pretty sure sakhi means "friend" or "companion" though in hindavi, the original language of this poem. It doesn't literally translate to "bitch" (although i like the way it's translated!) Affectionate, yes, but not in the way we translate profanity into affection to call our friends "bitch". It's like "GIRRRRLLLLL" Source: i speak urdu and hindi

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