Rippa-XXVI
(Calamity)

I

1

O mother, sorrow's harrowing
has swamped my whole being-
All honour to the sorrowing
who walk on uphill way.

2

My love took joy and health from me;
sorrow my mate became;
Mother, my fate destruction be
thus parted from my love.

3

Sorrows have neither hands nor feet,
yet wildly run through me-
Within they travel in dense rows
nought can their rage defeat,
Oh, who in loneliness complete
would without loved-one live?

4

Dry ground gives rise to growth, in rain,
the same with me it is...
From separation growth of pain
and sorrow issue forth.

II

5

The mind awake doth never stay,
although with scorn I keep it reined-
With dust gets covered all the day
just like a road-side tree.

6

When I lay waking on my bed,
Loved-one's favours stirred memory;
My pillow got all wet with tears
hand too, on which did lie my head
Memory kept on...with pain I said:
"Sisters, my life is all in vain.-"

7

Mine eyes don't sleep, their drowsiness
now all but broken is;
When fires dull, mem'ry's distress
makes flames shoot up again.

8

Rememb'ring your kindness, I live...
favours endless I count,
Numberless graces you did give
Beloved, to poor me!

9

For outside clouds I need not care,
rain ever pours within;
Beloved's clouds are everywhere
on my horizons here.

10

Desiring to forget, I groan,
and yet I can't forget-
Longing hurts like a broken bone
sharp and continuously.

III

11

Weep secretly, and not disclose
through tears your wretched state;
And all the sorrows bear, still those
arrive who pains remove.

12

O hide your love, as potters do
that cover up the kiln-
Free fire cannot bake a pot,
the potters' ways pursue;
As potters do with kiln, so you
must ne'er uncover fire.
____________________


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