Chet Chet/Chetra corresponds to March/April of the Gregorian calendar. O Bridegroom, this minion heart, in Chaitra longs only for You. This life that is an offering (to You) seeks only Your audience. Come, reveal Yourself, drench my soul, dispel doubt and banish my woes by Your touch.Vaisaakh Vaisaakh corresponds to April/May when the summer is at its peak. Anxiety chokes my heart if I see You not in the month of Baisaakh. In ten directions I have searched and now am parched, from cooing for hours like a cuckoo. For a glimpse (of You) my dry eyes thirst – tell me, Beloved, what am I to do?Jeth Jeth corresponds to May/June of the Gregorian calendar, also a part of peak summer. O the yellow heat of scorching Jeth! How I long succour – some comfort, solace. Grant me Your Naam, the cooling shade, the inner lake of calm. In return, I shall offer prayers through all eight watches. Your arrival I yearn for, O Shyam, lost in the one act of waiting, waiting… Harh Harh/Ashaarh corresponds to June/July, the beginning of the rainy season in the Indian subcontinent. Ashaarh brings the joy of union with the Lord. Look, friend – there’s my beloved! On Hindu and Momin alike He impartially bestows showers of blessed rapture. See how my Murshid, sweet as honey, says Peero, rows us through the world’s chaos.Saawan Saawan corresponds to July/August, the principal month of the monsoon.Saawan-showers on my heart’s earth washed the dregs of grief and made me a bride. Restless is the harlot who envies the married wife. Rudderless, she wanders from hell to hell. Her lament has no ears – it’s a hellish life.Bhadon Bhadon corresponds to August/September when the rains have brought greenery back. See how the Lord draws forth (from parched ravines) land that is green and fecund. Across the fear-ocean He steers us, Saeen, the captain of the ship. To Him has Peero’s heart surrendered: our beloved Gulabdas, who belongs equally to allAssu Assu corresponds to September/October of the Gregorian calendar. My tears, my life-force, are yours, Lord; to you I surrender all. For your company I lust. Grant me that pearl, precious as well-water. You made me radiant and pure when you made me your own personal dasi.Kattak Kattak/Kartik corresponds to October/November of the Gregorian calendar. The cold, dark month of Kartik, even Time bemoans. But fearless is the heart, undaunted, effulgent in union with Him! Infused with strength through divine grace I now devour even Kaal. In morsels I eat this expanding dark age; even family has abandoned me now as wasteMagghar Magghar corresponds to November/December, the winter month. Magghar resounds with joy! The gift of the Murshid I received from melting iron in life’s kiln. He cut the illusion-cloth of silk, cleaned my eyes of blinding silt, and brought me unto light. Such is the prowess of my Murshid; Peero stands in surrender before Him.Poh Poh corresponds to December/January of the Gregorian calendar. A potion of love the Murshid gave me; I tipped the chalice, and gained complete wellbeing. With such genius did the Master bless me, I pierced the gossamer globe. The universe is now but my own dream.Magh Magh corresponds to January/February of the Gregorian calendar. The month of Magh brings showers of bliss. Rejoice with me, friends – for I have found my Beloved, He that is the Murshid, my soul’s shepherd, He that is the sun that dispels all mist. Before Him, Peero bows in reverence as dasi. Phaggan Phaggan corresponds to February/March, the onset of spring. Phagun augurs the company of faqeers, all assembled in the Guru’s precinct. Arrayed in splendour, the groom Gulabdas sits like a moon in His starry canopy, His presence illumining the four directions. Peero, His dasi, is thrilled in this gentle drizzle of blissExcerpted with permission from In the Constant Rain of Bliss: Songs of Punjab’s First Woman Mystic-Poet, Peero, translated from the Punjabi by Neeti Singh, Speaking Tiger Books.