Translated from the Hindi by Moulinath Goswami
ON ITS OWN
When every wrangling of yours turns sweet on its own
When your each complaint turns into a smile on its own
When your entity turns silken-soft on its own
When your acrimony turns into a humming on its own
When your mind turns into a redolent forest on its own
When your thought turns mendicant on its own
When your speech turns into chanting on its own
When your words turn into a prayer on its own
then be aware you’ve become the ‘god of love’
you’ve become Krishna, you’ve become Rumi
you’ve become Kashi, you’ve become Kaaba…!
*****
RADIANCE OF LIFE
A world within me, that I live
I dwell in a heaven of beautiful thoughts
With me walks a caravan of empathy
The river of emotions ripples
Like a tranquil shadow words stick to me
telling stories and hymns
Breezes hum and serenade
They always lend me direction, lead me
Moon teaches me to walk in darkness
Sun leaves for me the mantra
how to fill the world with radiance
Rivers teach
how to moisten the unmoving rocks
Leaves teach to fly without wings
Soft delicate flowers teach
how to brave the thorns and yet smile
The blue of the sky remains as it is
despite the black clouds
Teary winds teach
how to instil life in withered trees
All the elements of universe are my friends
my inspiration, strength, my life
To struggle and to strive I have learned from them
This is my life and my sustenance…!
*****
.
Also, read “POEMS FROM ‘GARIP/STRANGE’— NEIL P. DOHERTY, TRANSLATED FROM THE TURKISH BY NEIL P. DOHERTY” published in The Antonym:
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