| 21. |
The rich raise temples,
But poor as I am, this I shall do -
My legs are pillars, my body is sanctum,
my head, the golden cupola -
Listen, Lord Kudala Sangama,
Matter passes, but spirit abides. 2
|
22. |
See-saw watermills bow their heads,
So What?
Do they get to be devotees to the Master?
The tongues join hands,
So what?
Can they be humble in service to the Lord?
Parrots recite,
So what?
Can they read the Lord?
How can the slaves of Bodiless God,
Desire,
Know the way
Our Lord's Men move
or the stance of their standing? 3
|
| 23. |
The sacrifical lamb brought for the festival
ate up the green leaf brought for the decoration;
Not knowing a thing about the kill,
it wants only to fill its belly;
born that day, to die that day.
But tell me;
did the killers survive,
O Lord Kudala Sangama (Lord of Meeting rivers) ? 3
|
24. |
The pot is a god. The winnowing
fan is a god. The stone in the street is a god.
The comb is a god. The bowstring is also a god.
The bushel is a god and the spouted cup is a god.
Gods, gods, there are so many
there's no place left
for a foot.
There is only one god.
He is our Lord of the Meeting Rivers 3
|
| 25. |
Look here, dear fellows;
I wear these men's clothes
only for you
Sometimes I am man,
Sometimes I am woman.
O Lord of meeting rivers
I'll make war for you
but I'll be your devotee's bride 3
|
26. |
I don't know anything like timebeats and metre
nor the arithmetic of strings and drums;
I don't know the count of iamb and dactyl.
My lord of the meeting rivers,
as nothing will hurt you
I'll sing as I love. 3
|
| 27. |
They say: Pour, pour the milk!
When they see a snake image in a stone;
But they cry; Kill, Kill!
When they meet a snake for real. 3
|
28. |
Look, the world, in a swell
of waves, is beating upon my face,
Why should it rise to my heart,
tell me,
O tell me, why is it
rising now to my throat ?
Lord,
how can I tell you anything
when it is risen high
over my head
lord lord
listen to my cries
O Lord of the meeting rivers
listen. 3
|
| 29. |
I added day by ady
a digit of light
like the moon.
The python world,
omnivorous Rahu,
devoured me.
Today my body
is in eclipse.
When is the release,
O Lord of the meeting rivers ?
3
|
30. |
Father,in my ignorance you brought me
through mother's wombs,
through unlikely worlds.
Was it wrong just to be born,
O Lord ?
Have mercy on me for being born
once before
I give you my word,
Lord of the meeting rivers
never to be born again.
3
|
