LYRIC-LUTE — 2
[53 Lyrics]
Poet:
DR. MAHENDRA BHATNAGAR
Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar's is one of the significant post-independence voices in Hindi and Indian English Poetry, expressing the lyricism and pathos, aspirations and yearnings of the modern Indian intellect. Rooted deep into the Indian soil, his poems reflect not only the moods of a poet but of a complex age.
Born : 26 June 1926: Jhansi (U.P.), Edu. : M.A. (1948), Ph.D. (1957) from Nagpur University; Retd. Professor.
Several volumes of poetry in English and other languages are published, viz. In French 'A MODERN INDIAN POET : Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar : UN POÈTE INDIEN ET MODERNE; In English Forty Poems of Mahendra Bhatnagar After The Forty Poems Exuberance and other poems Dr.Mahendra Bhatnagar's Poetry Death Perception : Life Perception Passion and Compassion Poems : For A Better World A Handful of Light Lyric-Lute. etc. Poems are translated in most of the Indian languages.
Published research & critical studies :
(1) Living Through Challenges : A Study of Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar's Poetry
(2) Poet Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar : His Mind And Art.
Adviser — 'POETCRIT'. At present — Research Guide in many Indian Universities.
Contact :
110 BalwantNagar, Gandhi Road, Gwalior — 474 002 (M.P.) INDIA
Phone : 0751-4092908 / M-98934 09793
E-Mail : drmahendrabh@rediffmail.com
[54] HELPLESSNESS
Far, in the sky, looking the Moon!
Being awakened, passed the mid-night,
But, couldn't express indistinct heart's desire,
With tearful eyes, looking the Moon!
Though, heart is appearing calm outwardly,
But within, is suppressed intense storm of youth,
Feeling the pain of separation, looking the Moon!
The smile is spreading in the whole sky,
But, how helpless, unfulfilled the yearning is,
With heavy body, looking the Moon!
[55] ATTRACTION
As nearer I come to you, Moon
The more you move away, cautiously!
Tell me before, will you not let me reach?
Oh, say already, you will not accept my love,
The more I need you O, Moon!
The more you change and move away!
Will you not ever come in my lonely life?
Will not like smiling in bonds of love?
The more I try to bind you O, Moon!
The more restless you become and move away!
Why do you look continuously, standing,
from the above?
Why do you throw your silken well-arranged rays?
As soon as, I, the wretched entangled inadvertently,
In same manner, you the Simple one! move away!
[56] MOON AND STONE — 1
Oh, Moon, you are stone-hearted!
There's no sense; loving you,
It's vain effort to persuade you,
It's useless to invoke one's tender feelings of life,
When you are not kind at all!
It's good for nothing to talk to you,
Only, passing the whole night awake,
Lethal, betraying, lie is your bond of love,
You want self-victory — that's all!
Self-absorbed, throwing the bright string,
What you see, at this side?
Supremo of Heaven! free inhabitant of the sky!
Oh, how does it concern you —
Whether there is creation or destruction?
Your attraction is not true,
Your showering love is not true,
True is not, your refreshing silvery smile on lips,
You are engrossed in yourself, at present!
[57] MOON AND STONE — 2
Moon, you are not at all stony!
You have also a tender heart,
The affection is overflowing in full,
Very much emotional and agile, you are,
That's why, you are at close quarters, not outside the heart!
You are progressing on your path,
You are nourishing amidst storms,
You are facing the winters' cold, smilingly,
So, it is wrong to say, you are not a companion of man!
You are in the bonds of someone's love,
You are hope of somebody's life,
You are the tune of song in someone's heart,
The only regret is — Ah! you are not on the earth!
[58] DON'T KNOW WHY
I know, I can't associate myself with this moon,
As she cannot move from heaven, even by omission!
Her steps always move on the sky,
She favours only the silvery world,
Still, love her, with the core of my heart, don't know why!
Remember her again and again, don't know why!
I know this moon will not come in my arms,
Never, even by mistake, devote me,
Her imaginary world is everlasting,
It's beyond anybody's control, to seize her,
Don't know, why I show meaningless right, on such!
Still, love her, with the core of my heart, don't know why!
I know, this moon, will not speak to me, in any manner,
Never will untie her heart's knot, even forgetfully,
Her eye-language is not easy,
Outright disappointment, in understanding her,
With her only, I behave so emotionally, don't know why!
Still, love her, with the core of my heart, don't know why!
I know this moon is the worshipper of grandeur,
Is the roamer of charming, intoxicating, imaginative world,
And innumerable thorns are lying on my way,
The winds of deprivation come always and howl,
Still, I adorn the path only with her appearance, don't know why!
Still, love her, with the core of my heart, don't know why!
[59] COMPANY
Do the company of moon ever be left?
Where-ever we go and live, this moon will also be there,
The frenzy of our life will also survive there,
Do tell , does anyone, up-date
has plundered the beauty of moonlight?
She will smile with us in the days of happiness,
Will show compassion and shed tears to see us sad,
Living far, in separation, has never
broken the bond of love!
She will come in our sleep and decorate sweet dreams,
Will tap the weary body with exceedingly cool breeze,
Will flow ceaselessly and with same pace,
Since the fountain of love has spout!
[60] CONCEALMENT
Always glanced the moon stealthily from the lattices,
And thus avoided catching moon's eye!
Sent always false messages to the moon,
And thus hid heart's secrets from the moon!
When I looked at the moon, I smiled knowingly,
And thus concealed the pang of my heart from the moon!
I tried hard to comprehend the moon, but in vain,
And couldn't for a moment say the golden dream to moon!
Continued to make mistakes, without thinking good or bad,
Committed love with moon — a someone's perpetual trust!
Ages are passing on silently, I am also silent,
Since, on which support, now I talk to the moon!
[61] DON'T REALIZE LIKE THIS
Don't think, I am on the shore now,
I am still in the mid-current of life's stream!
Wave is lovely to me,
I love its each blow,
Have love with each
string of the wave,
Don't think I dwell in a secure abode, now,
Still am I in the open space!
Forgotten songs remain in my mind,
Have attachment to every hurt sentiment,
For each unseen storm
likely to come at each step in life,
Don't think I have found the garden of heaven,
I am still in a desolate place, amidst autumn!
I search for altogether a new ray,
a colourful and bright firmament,
Want to enjoy
a lovely dream,
Don't think, the moon is now in my possession,
I am still in darkness all round!
[62] SO, TO MEET YOU
So, difficult now to meet you!
How many ages have passed in silent waiting,
The clouds of long thirsty eyes are emptied-out,
On the deserted path of lonely life,
there is nothing, except a vast expanse of autumn!
Before me, all are strange and new,
Oh, well acquainted dreams have gone where?
Have searched out continuously with vigilance
each corner of sea-land-sky!
[63] SELF-CONFESSION
Don't be so mad!
Whom you consider, each moment,
a straight rapid fountain,
That's a burden-some, painful, deprived,
ever lonely, void unfertile land,
Keep your heart under control,
Don't be so feeble!
Why looking so attentively —
it's stone not wax,
O, Chakori1! it is a morning sun
not the moon,
Before any stranger
don't be so innocent!
It's not a cloud pleasant and cool,
Only a cloud of hot smoke,
O, Ignorant! don't search in it
again and again life's support,
All is a mirage,
Don't be so unsteady after that!
The deserted garden that you are adorning
with such great efforts,
How will it flourish,
try to understand a bit, the helplessness of heart,
Remaining in the tearful eyes
Don't become collyrium of grace
1 A bird enamoured of moon according to Indian myth.
[ 64] VALUE OF TEARS
When was it possible for the world
to assess the value of my tears?
It simply kept on gazing,
the unwinking flow of tears,
Looking with two merciless eyes; that's all,
as if, lamps devoid of affection,
Which human being sang the song
in tune with my agony?
Is there any fellow-traveler of life,
just matching one's heart's desire,
When one is facing and suffering
sobs, mute sighs, and death?
Is there any, who is protected
by the intricacies of heart?
[65] LET RUN DOWN
Let run down the tears of mine,
But don't confer the gift of love!
On the path, as I stop,
On each step when I bend,
Fighting with the storms
Get tired, entangled in the whirlwind,
Let me move in a tottering manner,
Don't give me support for a moment!
Whether the tide rises in the ocean,
No matter, the boat caught in the whirlpool,
Looking the thick rainy clouds gathered
the heart palpitates in quick successions, even though,
Let me move forward
Don't give helm in my hands!
On the dark path of life,
On the bushy and thorny path of life,
Support less and alone,
Enlightening my heart
I shall go stumbling and rising,
Don't give me the world of easily obtainable light!
[66] DESTRUCTION
I am fading each moment!
Stars envelope in the sky,
Waves merge in the ocean,
Tunes of the lyre are lost
In the sound of blowing wind,
One day in the stream-trend of time
Agile; I will also vanish!
The youth of flowers is of short duration,
The song of the black-bees is short lived,
When their heart-beats of desires
are so transient
Lasting for a short time, my mortal body
Will also become feeble!
The day declines and the dust diffuses in air,
The night rolls every moment
The ages are passing with their own pace,
The world is changing continuously,
I also move on the path of life
With internal uneasiness!
[67] EVOLUTION
I keep glowing every moment!
Buds on the branches of trees,
Row of stars flickering in the sky,
Little by little, look in full perfection
With the new lustre of life!
Dry river receiving water up to the brim
The desert being full with dripping drops,
When each particle gets life
I too fill vim in my heart!
Infusing sweet joviality in the world
Came fresh spring on the earth,
My words also getting tunes
When cuckoo started cooing!
[68] FLOW OF PASSION
Today, passions are in full sway!
Vanquishing the ocean of tears,
The heart gets rid of pain,
The burden of ages
became light,
Heart has sung a song;
Reverberating its clank!
Heat of the sun has gone,
Burning sensations of soul are calm,
In the shades of clouds
Prevailing the cool wind!
Got the love of beloved
in her silent acceptance!
Merged, within the blink of an eye
All the hardships of night and day,
The heart became happy,
Like the leaf of a garden,
I attained now everlasting happiness
Materializing the paradise!
[69] NIGHT
Limitless moonlight has spread,
Heart-peacock is dancing,
Entangled with the eyes, the sleep has gone away!
Life — has materialized in eyelids,
a happy new world,
That's why the splendour of silent eyes is increased!
The silvery night is very alluring,
The wind has blown from the far east,
The intoxication of night is fully overcast in sky!
How lovely is the song of night,
Listening to which one loses one's attention,
Some secret of creation is hidden somewhere, certainly!
[70] DENSE CLOUDS
Fresh dense captivating clouds gathered
and overcast the whole sky!
This day, they are giving thousand blessings
to the distressed earth!
Look, how much dark is the mass of clouds!
The sky is roaring
In a grave voice, alike a musical instrument,
As if, wanted to perform all the musical notes,
Look, these clouds are female attendants of the sky!
Let drops of water fall — non-stop
With intense speed; not mildly,
Rain in the whole world
So that all the calamities be far away!
Look, how compact are these clouds!
[71] SING THE SONG
You say, ''Sing the song, today!''
It's a union-festival — auspicious and sacred!
You, forcibly fill the vibrations of pleasant waves in life,
And just then, come quietly, steal the heart's wealth,
Feelings of sadness are lost,
you make me forget past-sufferings!
You are sweetish cool spring of my life's stream,
Influencing the tune of my life's poems, every moment,
At the time of utter defeat,
Looking towards you, I feel myself victorious!
[72] YOU
You are tender shoot of my life's tree!
You give distinct recognition to my youth,
Lustre lost face got brightened, due to you,
Your movements prove my living existence, yes!
I admit, during the stormy-rainy season,
I shook from the root,
Yet, I sing your song,
thoroughly from the depth of heart,
Only, on your strength, I fight fearlessly — unceasingly!
[73] THE SAFFRON OF YOUR 'MAANG1'
How is it, this day, diffusing out
the saffron of your 'maang'!
I saw you very closely,
There was no where, any sign of joy, on your face,
Don't know why, you kept on standing, with fixed feet, self-absorbed!
When you are bestowed with such a lyrical life,
Tell me, then why is so restless
the state of your body and mind,
Don't know, which ideas of uncertain future
causing you distress!
The bright moon-like face is appearing depressed,
Each breath is cumbersome, getting unnerved,
Don't know why, today the flowers of each garden
are withered away!
1Parting line of hair (on a lady's head.)
[74] YOUR REMENISCENCE
Only, your reminiscence is with me!
Today, why this, a very old incidence
is taking shape in my thoughts?
Today, again like that night of farewell,
Why tears are running down in the eyes?
When only the frenzy is with me!
Chatki1 is saying this painfully —
''How difficult is the path of love,
The obstructing world can't see,
Remains the burns only , to be forgotten,
Only this complaint is with me!"
But your reminiscence, a life's wish,
became that ineffaceable line of vermilion —
Before which, not a little,
life is worried now, for your remote presence,
The moon is with me to look at!
1 A mythological Indian bird. Drinks only the rain-water during the 'Swati' constellation.
[75] REMEMBRANCE
Years' old memory is just recollecting in my mind!
The tree, in front of me, is as much old
so much is the incidence,
The day when the sky
was drizzling continuously,
The moon had hidden behind darkened clouds!
Standing on the roof,
Feeling thrills in darkness,
You were singing the song,
Just then, I also came nearby,
Met two lovers with love,
Frenzy of that very day alone is saved in the eyes!
[76] IN AWAITING
The stars disappeared, in waiting for someone!
Counting them, passed the lonely night,
They were strong support for the heart-beats,
The rays from the east are fetching the day,
The hem of hope and despair has blown away,
Continuously with the streams of tears
They have washed away the overcast darkness of the sky!
Eyes, seeing the path, remained awake the whole night,
The innocent lamp of heart, kept on flickering with sneh1,
All the forthcoming moments, appeared as if full of burns,
The heart has been worshipping continuously since ages,
O, Dear! rising in the heart, non-stop,
such unusual thoughts — good or bad!
Walking from the path, spreading towards the horizon,
When sometimes, you will be nearby, smilingly,
It's my belief, O, companion of life!
You will never forget me like this,
O, Papeehe2! say — all the wretched kalps3 of the Viyogi4 have been completed!
1 Love, Affection, Oil substance.
2 Papeeha (Chatak) — A mythological Indian bird. Drinks only the rain-water during the 'Swati' constellation.
3 A day of Brahma (one thousand 'mahayug' — 4,32,00,00,000 years of mortals)
4 Man separated from his wife or beloved.
[77] THE RESULT
Is this the result of ages' long devotion?
I am a devotee of your attractive form,
Always look unwinding your grace-glory,
But the morn of happiness has vanished,
it's the evening of life!
I have called you in dream,
Decorated the room of heart,
But the fountain of love is simply flowing
Incessantly from the ages!
Ears are attending to the sound of footsteps,
My both the eyes are eagerly awaiting,
But there is seen not even a glimpse of yours!
[78] DESIRE
Desire of mine!
Just as sky,
Restless shivering,
Can't contain itself in the heart,
Imagination of mine just as — dense fresh clouds!
Candid lamp,
Constant brightness,
Trilling voices of pain are imprisoned in the heart,
Complete life-worship of mine is well adorned, today!
No burns,
Sink in nectar,
The unflickering flame of heart is burning constantly,
Always object-oriented is worship of mine!
[79] IRRESTISTIBLE
I shall not bow down before misfortune,
Though remained unsuccessful in life, today!
Not even for a moment kept dormant
the feeling of devotion,
No matter, if I am defeated,
I shall not get tired on the lonely paths,
Away, how-so-ever away may the destination be!
Today, the darkness alike Amavas1 is overcast all-round,
But, just tomorrow, the dawn will smile all-round,
I shall not stop in the crippled dilemma of mind,
Though I may not have any support!
1 The last day of the dark half of a month.
[80] UNSTOPPING FEET
In the dark night of despair no ray of hope glows!
Nowhere, now the stars in the sky shine,
All horizons of the earth invisible, afar somewhere,
But, I keep on going support less somewhere, constantly,
All the birds of heart are not tired, still,
The rugged way difficult and full of thorns,
but feet not stopping anywhere!
Constantly vomiting poison — every story of the path,
Storms continuously demolishing
all secured eminent structures,
But, constantly progressing, free and powerful life,
Not least unsuccessful became the devotion of my soul,
Extinguished the fast kindling flame
of inauspicious rival time!
Lightening and roaring dense clouds are frightening,
Becoming rough and complicated continuously each way,
Encircled darkness enhanced each step like smoke,
Due to terror, signal-lamps of the road extinguished,
It's the night of annihilation, but even at this dreadful time
My eyes did not fill with tears!
[81] AN INCOMPLETE IDOL
It is decided, now
this life will not give you any grace!
Now, life will not give you,
any more spare time!
Remembering the passed days,
how long would you burn?
Entangled in the opposite currents
how much would you flow?
Oh, how long would you tolerate the strokes of the storms?
Life will not give you any more turn
to play such a way,
Life will not give you
now any more vitality!
May all impossible fancies materialize,
May all warbling desires get shape,
May we experience all leaping loving passions,
The life will not give ever
such heaven,
The life will not give ever
such fortune!
[82] INTOLERABLE
Very sad heart
Tired body
Very sad heart!
Sky — full of sultriness
Air — stand still
Suffocation, Suffocation, Suffocation!
Overcast dense darkness
No where any ray
Eyes gone astray!
Very disappointed heart
Very dejected heart
Burn, Burn, Burn!
[83] SUPPORT
I don't want to go along with you
Even if move away the support of life!
If lived, begging somebody's mercy
Then, for what?
I shall feel no anxiety, even negligently,
For myself,
Not least regret, whether extinguish
This only shining star in the sky!
Will laugh and live
Without success,
Human life doesn't brighten up
Without futilities,
I have great confidence that
This flowing stream of life will not cease
[84] NO LIFE
Is it life? No, not at all!
Good fortune is not the only wish of heart,
To weep on misfortune is a crime here,
To forget —
Moments of distress are indications of great future,
If, having no so much faith
Then, that can never be an outlook of life,
No, not at all!
Dreams only overcast in the sky of eyes,
Who sing songs for only themselves,
To forget —
Excellence, service-rendering
are the basis of humanity!
If so much is not acceptable
Then your breath is tied up,
And in the heart there is no palpitation,
Not at all!
Not only flowers bloom in the garden,
Dust also spreads at every feet,
To forget —
Ever revolt against hindered and imprisoned life,
If you have so much attachment with life,
Then, what's the frenzy of might,
Is it youth? No, not at all!
[85] COMPANION
Those who suffer the calamities of life laughingly —
Are my only companions!
Dense darkness on the
thorny, rugged, stony and lonely way,
But, those who set out,
having enlightened new dawn in their eyes,
Dauntlessly which play with life and death —
Are my only companions!
When angry fast winds roar on head,
When failed all hopes and desires of future,
Then in that utter disappointment
those who endure many hardships in life —
Are my only companions!
Dashing against obstacles
those who could not know ceasing,
Before getting the destination
those who could not know tiring,
Throughout the life
those who concord with the youthfulness of life —
Are my only companions!
[86] THIS IS NOT DESTINATION
This is not your destination!
You have to go further,
You have to burn more,
You have to struggle hard on the path of life!
You have to drink more poison,
Then only is the living successful,
Today, it is the time, surely, for your test!
Storm is before you,.
But, man is mighty,
Who whipped all the creation of calamity with feet!
This is my faith,
History speaks,
I am the same that makes the body of destructive designs
shiver!
[87] DEVOTION TO SONG
Tune of hope and belief
I have been playing on the lyre of time, constantly!
The dense darkness surrounded on the way,
Terrible is the whole atmosphere today,
Clouds gathered and sky roaring,
Have been singing victory-songs
In front of death / at funeral pile!
Collect, Man! Life-courage everlasting,
Burn in the fire, which is sharply flamed,
The youth will be brightened up thus,
Giving performance of powerful songs,
Have been awakening the world!
[88] DAWN
Is a bit of night remained till now?
Silence, felt as if the dawn slept,
Eyes looking towards the horizon,
Why not the creation is changing its guise?
The dawn is not giving any boon,
The song of birds is silent still,
But, my consciousness awakened,
As life is listening a new message!
I have no love for dreams,
Have searched for a man of dutiful heart,
May my new country remain awaking!
[89] LAMP OF LIFE
This lamp of life kept on burning alone
the whole night!
Wind came with a destructive force,
Sky roared in the madness of power,
But, the lamp was engrossed in burning without repose,
Till the new golden time didn't come in the world!
It has been constantly burning laughingly
the whole night,
It has been reared up even amidst the storms,
Has been crushing the vanity of tyrants,
It gave gleaming light
to mute, ruined and troubled men!
[90] INTRODUCTION
Sweet stream of love I am!
Those who came not close to me,
Kept distant acquaintance only,
Thought me devoid of feelings,
Laughing ridiculously, neglected me,
How they came to know,
Ocean of love I am!
Seeing mine frail body, with a bird's eye,
Turning their face, became aloof from my way,
How they came to know,
The axis of power I am!
I didn't smile a little,
Because the life was much perplexed,
So, the people who think me the mute stone,
How they came to know,
Tinkling of harp I am!
Leaving me alone on the bank
Those who went away on their boats,
Now, entangled in the waves of tide,
And the ocean is roaring on them,
How they came to know,
Helm of salvation I am!
[91] FESTIVAL OF LIGHT
Each house is gleaming with the small lamps of soil!
The earth covered with the waves of darkness,
But, floating on it lambent light-boat,
Have to burn, whether sky may be devoid of stars
And moon!
Overcast ugly smoky vapour on the world,
But, flows constant the ocean of love,
In the deserted heart of time,
you have to remain full with compassion!
Structures of the world are dismantled due to fast storms,
But, parallel to it smiles new shape,
Will erode the curse of devastation,
when the new steps of creation fall forward!
Exploding uproars from each corner,
Now the attachment to dreams is breaking,
Decayed death will disappear
in the stir of new life!
[92] TIDE AND BOATMAN
The boatman is rowing the boat!
Tearing the heart of ocean
run terrible waves, nonstop,
Winds rustle with angry tone
right on the head,
Dense darkness overcast in the sky
from this horizon to that,
Some murderous creature is taking long breath nearby!
Each moment, coming from afar
dark clouds of annihilation are amassing,
Suppress, with horrible roaring,
the voice of powerful hope of victory,
Gloating last time, assisted by death,
but constantly forwarding, with steadfast courage,
he is challenging the adverse circumstances!
[93] INVINCIBLE
The youthfulness of the age cannot be defeated!
To the organized peoples' consciousness,
To the desire of new creation,
To the age old devotion of proletariat class,
To the dream of happiness of man,
To the hopeful mansion of peace,
And to the life-sky full of redness of dawn,
Have you heard the story of destroying them?
Feet hard as steel,
Who fought with the storms,
Could not tremble even a step,
Remained standing solid as a mountain,
Challenge the foes,
Fight and kill,
Those who sacrifice life in doing worldly duty,
When does their fierce life-force become slow!
Summons the power,
Fills enthusiasm in heart,
Hearing which feeble man's chest swells with glory,
Which covers way in darkness,
Echoes in each quarter,
Tells the new message of revolt to stars,
Cannot stop the voice of peoples' salvation!
[94] NEW CONSTRUCTION
I am constantly going on constructing a new path,
And shall keep on!
Path — on which there is a net of thorns,
and layers of darkness,
Path — on which there is a heap of stones,
And is inaccessible desolate,
Path — on which is blowing storm —
with destructive typhoonic-sound,
Path — on which snow is falling,
and is inviting death,
Becoming a lamp, I am burning only on that,
And shall keep on!
Today, in chain of rigidity, life is tied-up,
Wounded age-bird fluttering in illusion,
entangled itself in parapet,
Like cremation area — silence, stagnancy is prevailing,
and the voice has choked, now-a-days,
In front — terrifying rugged quarters,
amassed in fog, are seen,
Like a flower, I am blooming in the ruined garden
of the world,
And shall keep on!
[95] GO ON ADVANCING
Go on advancing on the way!
Far is your destination,
But, steps will not be weary,
Youthfulness of age has not lost courage till today,
O, Fighters against storms!
Go ahead fiercely, fearlessly, happily!
Strength of faith is with you,
Matchless force of history is with you,
Having untired stamina to bring again,
new spring in the future world,
O, Young man! with your blood,
build a new strong mansion in the world!
Darkness is disappearing,
New morning is coming,
Each particle of the world is singing
new song of creation,
So, you too go on fighting
for the dignity of new age!
[96] FAITH
Proceed with faith, the obstructions of the way
will remove!
The fire of your life will shine like embers,
All dark quarters will glitter in flooded light,
Vanity of your foes will smash into pieces!
Sing constantly that song which is full of hope,
Language of your eyes, should tell the constancy
of your aim,
Then, being defeated, rival will show humbleness
towards you!
All rocks of adversity will crack and break,
Roaring storms, inflicting sufferings,
will bent and submit to dust,
The man will sow and water the seeds of comfort
motivated by you!
[97] BLIND AGE
Be cautious
Oh, watchful guards!
Many demons are surrounding
to snatch the freedom of man,
Darkness spreading swiftly
to swallow each ray of future,
Be cautious
Oh, watchful soldiers!
Today, overcasting
dense blood-showering terrifying clouds,
Thundering in the sky
destructive cruel thunderbolts, impatiently,
Be cautious
Oh, saviours of world peace!
[98] BEHOLD FLASHES
Adopt new thoughts!
Improve the fallen state of the society,
Improve it!
Ceased flow may flow again,
Spirited song may echo,
Let there be limitless love-treasure in the heart,
Filling that, numberless people may get up,
Awake the earth and call out the morn,
Call out!
The country may remain organized,
No man may be suppressed,
No one bear hunger and thirst,
May be seen altogether a new guise,
Time restored, behold the flashes,
Behold!
In the overwhelming stream of joy
Love — white and red,
Flow, flow, flow, flow!
Acclaim victory of humanity,
A new hut is built, reside in it,
Reside!
[99] BIRD OF THE AGE
In void sky, you, the bird of the age
will fly with a constant pace,
You will fly!
You can never stop,
Wings will keep on rising and falling,
You can never get tired,
On the way, clouds will come and gather,
Giving the new message of liberty,
to the world, you'll go forward,
You'll go forward!
On the fiery path, with healthy heart,
Feeling support of inner-self, and dauntless,
Torch-bearer, lamp of knowledge,
With new creation, hail to the proletariat class,
Giving challenge
to the hostile powers of the age, you will ascend,
You will ascend!
[100 ] SITUATIONS AND SUSPENSE
Not worried; nevertheless afraid too!
When life is at stake,
Facing struggles at every step,
New Bhairvee1 is being resounded,
Not at all possible to stop anywhere
There is defeat; together with victory!
We are feeling all passions,
Desires and renunciations,
Someone calls — 'Come back',
Someone adorn, saying — 'Good-bye'!
Weeping and wailing; as well singing too!
There is reflection of bad in good,
Where is deception; there is faith too,
Even curse is with bliss,
'Human' is weak, moreover is truly great,
Unholy; is sacred too!
Who is challenging like this?
Who is caressing like this?
Man — is drenched in hostile conflicts,
Man — is always present in moments of enjoyment,
He is a foe; as well a friend too!
1 A tune which is sung in the early morning.
[101] CHANGING ERA
Look, the time is changing!
A new flame is enflamed in the world,
Fire of life is anew,
Burning all that is tattered and worn out,
All that is old — is demolished and destroyed!
The flames of devastation are terrible
Overcasting the whole sky,
Momentum is reckless; impossible to suppress!
Each one is coming forward,
Before eyesight each particle is feeling free,
Reality has come in front,
There is no fabrication any more!
Don't show resentment to this,
Don't inhale breaths of spite,
It will continue moving;
Useless to pave the way with thorns!
[102] WHERE IS REST ?
Where is rest for us?
We have fought even the death,
Each moment progressing ahead,
All the thorns of the path
See, are thrust into the dust by now,
Moving forward, we have to destroy the darkness hence on!
We haven’t cared for troubles moreover,
We haven’t seen dust too,
We haven’t seen
the smiling sweet flowers in the way,
We haven’t known what is love and ties of affection!
We are not what we were yesterday,
We are marching at our own pace,
Whether it is defeat or victory
We remained alike at every moment,
We have strange and firm faith to change the world!
[103] BEAUTY OF THE WORLD
Let the independence of each and every country
remain intact forever!
We love independence limitlessly —
more than our own existence,
No eligibility is laid down anywhere
to be a patriot,
Let the feeling of democracy remain keen always!
Innumerable people of the world
are undivided and equal,
The feeling is same, though
there are several National Anthems,
Let the feeling of equality remain burning every moment!
Abandon : That throw
the humanity of man to flames,
Adopt : That bears
high-minded humanism,
Let ever flow the waves of enthusiasm for secularism!
[104] FAITH IN DEMOCRACY
Quarters echo with the proclamation of democracy!
Now each man is the part of the government,
The value of life is enhanced,
Feelings are dedicated to the Independence!
Darkness will not raise head now,
The sky will gleam with light,
Our notions are inspired by resolute object!
The tune of sorrow will be silent,
The desire of pleasure will materialize,
Inequalities of every kind will end, now!
[105] REPUBLIC - RELIC
Fill the golden rays
of Republic day in the heart!
May the inner-self, enlighten
And echo the entire gamut like warbling,
Give sweet voice to
the splendid feelings of Republic day!
Equality may reflect in the eyes,
And spill the sea — full of love,
Do resonate the faith of Republic day in each particle!
All brutality may pass away,
Dignity may come in each man,
Remove your sin
in the compassionate-Ganga of Republic day!
[106] RESOLUTION
Dignity of human may ever be secured and respected,
It 's our resolution!
We ourselves be the maker of our fortune,
The power of people may not decrease,
The freedom of man may not be least snatched,
It's our resolution!
Having tied in the thread of unity,
All may proceed on the path of progress,
Nobody may be reproached
in the name of Religion, Language and Caste,
It's our resolution!
Illiteracy and poverty may eliminate,
Humanity may be free from class difference,
Earned money may not be limited to selected people,
It's our resolution!
CONTINUED
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
LYRIC - LUTE — 1 [53 Lyrics]
LYRIC-LUTE — 1
[53 Lyrics]
Poet:
DR. MAHENDRA BHATNAGAR
Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar's is one of the significant post-independence voices in Hindi and Indian English Poetry, expressing the lyricism and pathos, aspirations and yearnings of the modern Indian intellect. Rooted deep into the Indian soil, his poems reflect not only the moods of a poet but of a complex age.
Born : 26 June 1926: Jhansi (U.P.), Edu. : M.A. (1948), Ph.D. (1957) from Nagpur University; Retd. Professor.
Several volumes of poetry in English and other languages are published, viz. In French 'A MODERN INDIAN POET : Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar : UN POÈTE INDIEN ET MODERNE; In English Forty Poems of Mahendra Bhatnagar After The Forty Poems Exuberance and other poems Dr.Mahendra Bhatnagar's Poetry Death Perception : Life Perception Passion and Compassion Poems : For A Better World A Handful of Light Lyric-Lute. etc. Poems are translated in most of the Indian languages.
Published research & critical studies :
(1) Living Through Challenges : A Study of Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar's Poetry
(2) Poet Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar : His Mind And Art.
Adviser — 'POETCRIT'. At present — Research Guide in many Indian Universities.
Contact :
110 BalwantNagar, Gandhi Road, Gwalior — 474 002 (M.P.) INDIA
Phone : 0751-4092908 / M-98934 09793
E-Mail : drmahendrabh@rediffmail.com
[1] GIFT OF GOLD
Dawn brought the gift of gold!
O, buds! wake up and get up,
fill the gift in anchal1,
Get decorated in golden appearance,
fill sweet feelings in red-roses,
Filling new brilliance in body,
Swing in new gusto,
In odorous cold ripples,
Every love-laden vein is heart-stealer!
Open the inner oriels-doors-windows all,
Now, never surround the visage in such darkness.
O, bathe in golden sea,
O, decorate the body with ornaments,
O, sing song of a new morn,
Let the heart-peacock dance lustrously!
1 Hem, Lap
[2] SONG OF THE DAWN
Ruddiness of the dawn infused love in the heart stealthily!
When fresh first ray fell on body
Ignorant playful heart became — a deer,
With the guileless raptures of love,
And the overwhelmed emotions of modesty,
Came cold breeze of dawn and made
the body aromatic!
Seeing dear dawn, when little lotus bloomed,
It appeared as if the gift of heaven was found,
Swinging branches wearing new ornaments,
How joyful is the atmosphere!
Filling golden tint, the dawn made earth fresh!
[3] BOATMAN
Evening is accumulating around, Boatman!
Filling tears in the eyes
now, somebody might have kindled the lamp,
And balancing the anklets
somebody might have sung the song,
Echoing the secret of the life,
continuously calling the sandy bank of the sea!
Splendour of the dawn is spreading around, Boatman!
Reddish-west-ward-direction-bride-like
Somebody might have decorated herself
in saffron auspicious,
Somebody's silvery love
might have dazzled like moon,
Turn the helm
towards the returning colourful birds,
Creation is entirely an illusion, Boatman!
[4] WHO ARE YOU?
Like redness of dawn
overcast the heart-sky,
who, you are?
Coloured the dull world with love,
Filled the mute world with sweet song,
Offered the golden world, so easily,
which is found only, in having a great fortune,
Like spring, perfumed the mango-groves,
who, you are?
Roaming in the lonely galleries of heart,
Swinging, embracing with fresh rays-arms,
Awoke my dream-beguiled deceptive life-conscience
by the act of caressing,
Allured me so much, like a sky-fairy,
who, you are?
Filled my void, dejected heart-lake
Gave tune to passion and compassion,
Shining new peaks of desires,
Made my love honest-auspicious-beautiful,
Charmed me so much,
O, pious!
who, you are?
[5] YOU EMBELLISHED IN SONG
You embellished my look in your song,
I'll embellish you in my heart with love!
Hue of tender feelings is filled,
Seeing it, fields light-green are blooming,
Don't give so much love, sustain a little,
When you inhabited me in your song
I shall stay you in my thoughts for ever!
You gave your arms to unsupported life,
You gave cloud-like shade to heated body,
And filled new desire to live,
You confessed your love in song
I shall express my heart — singing that song!
[6] YOU SMILED
You smiled, the lotus of my heart bloomed!
Seeing you, I rejoiced, I attained my attainable!
My moon! why did you raise
Tide in the ocean of life in such a way?
O, Beautiful lady! my ages' homeless love
Got support in you!
Now, a novice dream of love, inhabited in eyes!
O, charming cloud of Sawan1!
Why did you wet me like this?
O, Lightning! why you did so restlessly
embrace me in your arms with love?
May we never be detached, O, destiny! be kind!
1 The fifth month of the Indian Calendar (Rainy month)
[7] O, DESTINY
O, Destiny! the plant of my courtyard may not be dried!
It is the symbol of first sweet acquaintance,
May swing, wave and remain ever-green,
O, Destiny! the heart of my lover may not be hurt!
On the long rugged, lonely path
The life may pass joyfully,
O, Destiny! the heart of my heart-dweller
may never remain indifferent!
The world may never look us with ill-will,
The darkness of pain may go far away,
O, Destiny! my youth may never remain separation-burnt!
1The fifth month of the Indian Calendar (Rainy month)
[8] QUEEN DAWN
Simple-hearted pretty young queen-dawn is bathing
in blue sky-lake, delightfully!
Bound in love-act with Moon
she drank the lip-nectar whole night,
And redeemed it with her sacred love,
made the world fragrant
with fresh sweet-scented paint,
Thinking love-gestures, flows the reddish silky threads!
Whose face is filled with new hue of lotus,
As if carrying the feelings of satisfaction,
Blessed pleasing heart delighted
in sweet thoughts of her lover,
Without any purpose, diffusing water-drops,
every quarter in cheerful mood!
[9] PLEASANT MORNING
Every morning of life may be refreshing!
Stuff the laughter of spring,
of rivers, shores, moist banks,
of flowers, bracelets and garlands,
Every particle's tale may be a comedy!
Sweet songs of birds
Crazy love of raptures
Innermost waves of modesty,
Illusive world may not be strange!
With pleasing looks of love
Fill the world with desires,
with enfolding loving arms,
May youth be exciting and loving!
[10] SHORT LIFE
The world of flowers is ours!
We spend lavishly the bright laughter,
Fly sweet nectar of flowers,
Likable to us; the swinging of the wind,
Every thread of jingling heart is ours!
Take us to make garland,
Collect us to adorn the 'Maang'1
(of your beloved life-partner)
To inhabit your lonely dwelling,
Too innocent love is ours!
Don't shy, seeing us,
Don't express deceptive feelings,
Oh, don't tease so much!
The adornment of short duration is ours!
1 Parting line of hair (on a lady's head)
[11] MERRIMENT Of HOLI1
It's the month of 'Fagun'2, joy of Holi is all round,
Delightful ardent passions seen every where!
Beads studded in ears of corn, golden fields,
Unitedly are dancing merrily all around!
Showering love, East Wind is rambling,
Showing its green beauty, mustard is standing with unfold face!
Tabor, cymbals, drum are being played on in every village,
Accompanying are intoxicating new melodious words!
Wearing silver Payal3, O, girl-companion dance,
There has come desired lover, playful girl-friend, dance!
1 A Hindu festival.
2 The last month of the Indian Calendar..
3 An ornament for the ankles.
[12] HOLI
Holi, came once again, with varied new colours,
Holi, brought once again the intoxicated raptures!
Holi, once again came showering gold in the day,
Holi, hovered once again diffusing silver all the night!
Holi, Oh, when did fasten the tinkling bells in my feet!
Holi, being well executed the tune, has filled dancing gestures in body!
Holi, poured out in the heart forcibly intoxicating liquor,
Look, how our step-motions have become peculiar now!
Holi, we are playing drum in your welcome,
Holi, having intoxicated we are spreading Gulal1 all round!
1 Red farinaceous powder which Hindus throw on each other's person during the Holi festival.
[13] SONG OF EQUALITY
Let us bathe today
In the colours of human equality!
The light of those bright colours —
which is inherent in everybody's body and heart,
Mingle in the them
your dull shining twilight, now,
And just throw away
the collected age long concealed dirt!
Forget all differences of the world
of colour-caste, of money-rank-age,
Only echo in all directions
the sounds of victory of human glory and greatness,
Demolish today
the pride-fort of false dignity!
[14] LET US BURN
Let us burn
Sin instigating desires!
Let we become a new perfect human,
Completely free from inferiority, peerless,
Let us rejuvenate
The emotions of universal liking!
May there be no mutual antipathy,
Love for individual freedom may bloom,
Let us abolish
Trampled devilish servitude!
Life may not be hard at every foot-step,
Storm may not persist on sky all times,
Let us shed
Villainous, demoniacal, calamities!
[15] RAIN
(1)
Embracing fresh slaty clouds
Love-laden rain has come!
It gave, at ease, every dejected heart
the gift of sweet feelings!
(2)
Breaking the continuous monotonous sound
when creating a tune, clouds shower drizzling showers,
Then secret beauty of new-creation
Spreads uncovered to the far horizons!
(3)
Bearing new stirs in the pond of heart
Waves are dancing amorously,
In indistinct current of sweet sap
Oh, which drenched my life like this!
[16] KINDLE THE LAMP
Kindle lamp in every courtyard,
Celebrate the festival of lamps!
Golden light may spread in every home,
Visage may be attractive, each particle may be bright,
Sea of lustre may fluctuate!
Adorn the pitch dark night!
Filling roli1 in the night's lock of hair,
The glimmering innocent rays may dance,
Clouds of light may come overcastting,
Bathe, forgetting all remembrance!
Remain full with fresh love every heart,
Earth — wept for ages, be blessed,
Come O, fortunate wives! with worship plates
And flow lamps in the celestial Ganga!
1 The red powder which is used by Hindus in worship or in filling the maang of a married woman.
[17] GARLAND OF LAMPS
Enjoyment is spreading in each home, today!
With sweet exciting music
And with love brimming heart
Flamy lamps are dwelling in each home, today!
With youthful golden body
The glittering night
Is distributing laughter-gift in each home, today!
With lovely decoration
With raptures of recreation
Lamps are performing circular dance1 in each home, today!
1 A dance performed by Lord Krishna.
[18] INVESTITURE
Agreed, it is the dark Amavas! night,
But, why to be terrified?
Assume — in a moment
I kindle the bright radiant lamps,
Agreed, the appearance of dear earth is not graceful,
But, assume — in a wink,
With quite new art, I adorn a brand new bride again!
Tell darkness that now it is the rule of light,
Crown is adorned on the head of every lamp,
Assume — in some moments
I convene investiture in all quarters!
1 The last day of the dark half of a month.
[19] PUT ON LAMPS
(Girl) Friend! Put on lamps!
Dark night may not come now,
There may be no downpour of darkness any more,
In extinguishing lamps
Friend! Fill sneh1, quietly!
Face of lover may shine with laughter,
In the hope of coming suitable new time,
With reddish lips
Friend! Talk, gently!
Wet years of separation are passed
Blessed new passionate songs may echo,
Friend! the husband has come
Win his heart, silently!
1 Love, Affection / Oily substance
[20] ATTACHMENT FOR BEAUTY
Glittering beauty of someone doesn’t allow me to sleep!
Enchanting last quarter of the night,
The world is covered with dense darkness,
With lively cold waves of love
Smiles, attractive simple face of someone!
Heavy pain that I got
Is a diamond for my poor heart,
Collyrium, with tears of pleasant love,
Glimmering, inexperienced simple life-time of someone!
Charmed peacock-like delighted heart,
Restless arms eager to embrace the sky,
How hard-felt is the fire of separation,
Disturbing, sweet fragrance-memory
of someone!
[21] ILLUSION
Like magnolia-perfume your memory is impregnated my breaths!
Jasmine-like elegant, delicate-bodied, where are you?
Where is your rainbow-like glittering coloured appearance?
Mesmerizing1 me, your charming beauty is overspreading!
You, are like Kalp-latika2 for all human imaginations,
Made life a garden, full of Java3 flowers,
Losing all, I only silently flowed the celestial Ganga of my soul!
Where are you, my illusion, true?
Aasavari4 of my heart, dhoop-chhanh5 of my contentment
I have adorned my way of life-gallery
with your life-paintings!
1 Madhumati-mad (Trance-state / Half-conscious state)
2 According to Indian mythology, the tree of Lord Indra's paradise, which yields anything desired.
3 A red flower used in worship the idol of goddess.
4 A musical mode.
5 Cloth in which wrap and waft are of different colours.
[22] THE NIGHT IS PASSING!
Your memory is haunting,
The night is passing!
Today, in such a solitude of life
I awake in your thoughts,
The whole creation has slept,
Earth is singing a lullaby!
Many sights swing in the eyes,
Your each past talk seems alive,
Even, your casual looks of bygone days
Are appearing pleasant this day!
We are flowing in the stream of time,
But, O, sweet-heart! have faith in love,
Tomorrow, creeping-plant of heart will flourish,
Which is fading how much, now!
[23] THE NIGHT OF AGHAN1
During this cool night of aghan; Oh, I missed you!
Since evening, the lonely heart is very cumbersome,
Somewhat faded is the lotus of life —
helplessness of what sort!
Not known, how far is the golden morn!
Losing the riches of dreams,
eyes are helpless, heavy and empty,
Looking the course of destiny, with drops of tears,
Heart is throbbing like the leaf of peepal2 tree!
The hem of Rohini3 is far; silent moon weeps,
Wide-spread moonlight-sea is searching every corner,
Whom to tell the secret of heart!
1 Ninth month of the Indian Calendar (Margsheersh)
2 A holy tree of Hindus.
3 According to Hindu mythology, wife of moon. Fourth amongst twenty-seven constellations.
[24] YOU ARE AWAY
Dear! far way you are,
my heart is immensely restless!
Environment somewhat is strange, today,
As if somebody has snatched the essence of life,
Am I so unfortunate
being myself is the cause of separation-pain!
Simply, regretting silently,
Life — a gloomy night!
Missing somewhere the luminous-garland,
Disturbed sawan1 is showering at the door,
All alone am I
During the extreme end of the night,
Although, awakened, but forgotten every thing,
Eyes don't fall asleep even for a moment!
1 The fifth month of the Indian Calendar (rainy month)
[25] TO THE BELOVED
Otherwise, to remain far, like this
Why did you live in my heart?
Way of life is unknown
With provisions nil,
Storm is raising in the sky , in the heart,
No peace even for a moment,
Otherwise, to bear the burden alone
Why did you so fix thyself in my thoughts?
Oh, the fire — of life's dearths,
Is burning all around,
Depression is enclosed in my spirit,
Tired is the peacock of heart,
Otherwise, to burn so mutely
Why you impressed so much, the soul of my songs?
[26] BIRHIN1
O Dear, when will you spread
your innocent rosy smile!
Heart is out of sorts, lonely and very heavy,
O, merciful, touch my heart-beats,
This Birhin is waiting for you,
with heart full of life's burning pangs!
The vine of youth is fading in the sunlight,
Tell her about the sweet sensual love,
Wearing silver anklets
I wish to dance like a peahen to my heart's content!
Night is sleeping with her heart-stealer — Moon,
Every direction, like an emotional woman,
is vibrating with songs,
Hey, How to bear such an unknown sweet pain of heart!
1 A woman who is separated from her lover.
[27] WAITING
How many days passed
Dreams didn't come!
Entire night I remained wakeful,
Upset heart is unsteady like a peepal1-leaf,
Secret desires gathered and disappeared,
Dear husband didn't come!
Clouds making noise in the sky,
Peacocks dancing in forests — this and that,
My heart-stealer, Alas! has forgotten me,
Home didn't come!
Filling buds-flowers in the hem,
Set afloat lamps at the river-bank,
Longed eagerly to get the foot-dust,
Feet didn't come!
1 A holy tree of Hindus
[28] YEARNING
How much sweet dreams you bestowed,
But, arranged not the least love on earth!
Alone, I am searching in this world, for ages,
But, didn't get desired intimate friend anywhere,
Helplessly, time of life passed in hue and cry,
Couldn’t hear charming music for a moment,
You poured the milky oceans of smiles,
But, didn't drench a single heart with compassion!
On one side, you spread well adorned
colourful merriments of hundreds of springs,
And distributed, with both hands, in gratis
Jewels like Sun and Moon; bracelets of Star-flowers so,
But, on my prolific life-course
You didn't sow a single seed of sweetness!
[29] FILL WITH LOVE
O Dear, fill Sneh1 in my silently extinguishing lamp,
this day!
The wick may shine, and splendour spread,
World of mine may turn into a fresh golden appearance,
Everlasting smile may play on tear-drenched visage,
To the life — silent-troubled-cursed —
Give love-boon of worldly pleasures!
The door of my heart is closed for ages,
Strayed away and wandered in darkness — my love,
Every string of my life-harp is broken,
Sinking in the worldly ocean,
Give him arms, give him voice of faith!
1 Love, Oily substance
[30] VIGIL
Far somewhere, continuously
Sweetly, the harp is being played!
Intoxicating night has come,
Every quarter is intoxicated,
Remembrance recurrent in the mind,
Consciousness immersed in the thoughts of beloved!
The world is sleeping silently,
Lost in sweet dreams,
In absence of water-like look of the beloved
eyes transfigured themselves into fish!
Filled with hope and despair,
Infused with thirst of life,
The heart is restless, silent and sad!
Every moment is weeping,
Oh, what sort of calamity has fallen down
As if everything of mine was snatched!
[31] DECEPTION
Whom I thought boon
Same became a curse!
New moon had just glittered,
Clouds, at once, spread in the sky,
As soon as the garden became fragrant
Thunderbolts flashed on the head,
Whom I considered propitious and sacred
Same became a bitter sin!
Getting whom I decorated dreams of life,
They became only ironies of fate,
On whom gold reflected bright light,
Same are smeared now with ashes,
Whom I considered the essence of pleasure
Same became more and more painful!
[32] NO MORE
On my sky, no more, the moon will rise!
In your memory, the whole life will pass,
Ought to cross the dark lonely path,
How this load of sad life will be sustained!
Losing the raptures;
calm, helpless, mute, fruitless heart,
Losing the waves of emotions,
perpetually immersed in sadness, poor heart,
The tide of excitement
will not remain in the ocean of life, any more!
Love-delighted, joy-filled, rainbow-coloured Holi,
Passion-drenched Pancham Rag1, echoing in the garden,
Never known, destiny will swallow, this way!
1 The fifth note in music; acknowledged as the note of cuckoo's cooing.
[33] DAWN JUST TO APPEAR
Don't shed tears more,
The dawn is approaching!
All lamps are extinguished
Came such a hurricane,
All supports are demolished,
Browbeat the clouds of annihilation,
Being defeated, O, Traveler! Don't stagger,
The dawn is approaching!
Stream is overflowing, leaving its course helplessly,
Horrible darkness is overcast —
Intoxicated ... unrestrained,
Don't relinquish the hope in the advent of Sun,
The dawn is approaching!
[34] YOU
Truly, how innocent you are!
Gestures are beyond your comprehension,
Sweet feelings of your heart can't be perceived,
Engrossed in yourself, indeed you are
The companion of supernatural fairies!
You are not formal in the least, for a moment,
Even then, heaven knows, how you remain in my mind!
Becoming a spring-air,
You loiter — forest to forest!
[35] DON'T BE HARD-HEARTED
Dear! don't look towards me
with such extraordinary large eyes!
Don't reflect so much lunar-attraction,
on flooded heart,
I touch your feet, please take aside
the lustre of your beauty,
Or, throwing tie of silky rays,
arrest me in your eyes!
No more shower the pleasant love-nectar
on the surface of my mind,
This is not proper, after enchanting,
pine the heart, like this,
Allow me, at least to touch
your sparkled flower-marked hem!
In this rainfall of beauty,
impressed-wet-heart is forgetting the way,
Mind, you shall be responsible,
if overflowing ocean of youth breaks limits,
Will you come nearer,
don't be so hard-hearted!
[36] THE BEAM
The innocent beam of the moon
is descending with joy!
Seeing the whole creation slept,
On the unhindered silvery sky-route
Taking upon body-parts,
cautiously putting the speedy footsteps!
Remaining free, trampled the route,
Every village, house, street and city,
Neither remained a little calm-quiet,
nor performed her routine night-sleep!
[37] WHO SAYS
Who says, my moon is not a living being?
My moon laughs and smiles excellently,
Plays and then hides herself far off,
Who says, my moon's heart doesn’t palpitate?
Throughout the night she also remembers someone,
Observe, she also sighs in separation, often,
Who says, my moon is not in full youth?
She ever gives to the world coolness,
She ever showers dense nectar-rain,
Who says, my moon is not able
to give sandalwood-like soothing sensations?
[38] SPRING
Today, Dear! every limb is full of gusto,
as the spring has come!
Far off green fields are waving,
Full with fresh odour breeze is roaming,
Experiencing strange feelings birds are singing,
Today, Dear! genuine feeling of love
occupied the heart!
The garden bloomed with varied flowers and leaves,
Silently, sky is singing the song, moving to and fro,
Dawn is blushed, being an auspicious moment for union,
full of newness, freshness, oddness!
[39] SAWAN1 HAS COME
Sing, Dear! the songs of love!
Lively sawan has come,
Clouds of love are pouring down,
Far away, in the fields
watery, contented, grand greenery smiles,
On the branches, agile buds burst into laughter
Spilling cups full of ambrosia,
Don't go far from my presence,
Come and persist in my life!
Cool breeze is blowing,
Whispering something in the ear,
Musical notes, during bird's union,
are reverberating in the garden,
The heart of the earth is palpitating,
Influenced by the silent and loving attraction
of the creation,
Particles of the world are being in motion,
With the feeling of disinclination,
You please don't go, avoiding me like this!
1 The fifth month of the Indian Calendar (Rainy month)
[40] CLOUD AND MOON
Moon is playing hide and seek
with fragments of clouds in the sky!
The moon is beautiful, charming, attractive
and fair-bodied,
Why is so absorbed; while the cloud is ugly and black,
Can anyone tell,
how happened such an improbable, this night?
Both are constantly flying
But as the cloud laughs, intense passionate moon
Then, caught himself, in both the arms of the cloud,
Who can say, who'll lose the chance!
By running , both have approximately measured
The sky with footsteps,
Both have a bit taken and a bit given, today,
May this pretty pair live long and remain ever youthful!
[41] REQUEST
Dear, come and buzz
the chord of my dormant heart!
Resplendent moonlight is spread in sky and earth,
Night, as if lost in herself, is silent,
And how lovely you are — O, exciting lady!
Bring me under control
and fill intense passions in me, for a moment!
Intoxicating red are the beautiful lips.
Eyes are more innocent simple than a doe,
Body is fair-skinned — like lightening, glass and water,
Arms are like branches — new and fleshy,
Just now, hum a sweet new song
Full of life!
The world is more beautiful than heaven,
Every quarter is echoing,
Hey, this love is acceptable to the world,
O Dear Partner! long-awaited
sweet union-festival, now celebrate!
[42] IN MOONLIGHT
Bathe in new moonlight, bathe!
Today, stars slept, shutting their eyes,
A few are running towards the horizon,
Untied now our hearts' knots,
On the bed of beam, celebrate the love-night!
Gusts of wind singing union-songs,
Sweet notes have moved the heart,
New dreams are staying again,
Laugh and remove the curtain of hitch!
Youth awoke moving and smiling,
Unfolding and shying, came nearer,
Brought many respectful-persuasions,
Beautiful-faced! Don't hold yourself forcibly, any more!
Somebody embraced the black-bee,
Passionately slept in the odourous embrace,
Caressing with love, swung in the cradle,
O, bashful lady! Capture me too!
[43] WHAT WRONG I DID
Tell, what wrong I did with you?
You were half-bloomed tender bud,
When you met me first by oversight,
I too had an experience insufficient,
It was difficult to control myself for a moment,
That's why, I accepted you as mine forever!
In panorama of life, the night was dark,
Both were lost in themselves, had no aim,
When I was standing alone and confused
Love! I found you surrendering yourself,
That moment, you offered me all your love,
preserved through ages!
You did not stop my embracing hand,
You were free from any anxiety,
surely, there was no deception,
You came in my lock-up, without uttering a word,
As if I got the boon in its body-form,
How simple, mute, innocent, crazy the heart was!
[44] THE SONG OF SEPARATION
Your devoted love is now with you!
The life of mine is the night of Amavas1,
It's only a matter of repentance,
Today, my home is deserted,
Humming on silent lips is the song of separation,
But, happy I am —
A pleasant world is now around you!
I was destined for the mirage,
Even the dainty nectar turned sharp poison,
Near acquaintance has now become tentacles ,
Previous meetings became painful, at this moment,
But, happy I am —
Auspicious adornment is now in your lot!
Life is full of tornadoes,
Without sneh2, how long the lamp will alight,
The terrible tide is advancing
The helm, which was in hand, has fallen,
But, happy I am —
You stand on firm foundation, now!
1 The last day of the dark half of a month.
2 Love, Oily substance.
[45] THANKS
You bestowed
blooming-lotus-like transient smile to closed lips,
Kind of you, thanks!
Full-blown spring was scattered
On every branch of the world,
When each whit of the earth played fresh Holi,
Echoing my heart's silent space, you sang a melodious song!
Kind of you, thanks!
Dense-open woods covered in cool rays of the full moon,
When new lamps of hope used to flicker,
in the hearts of everyone,
In my darkness of ages,
you brought that glimmering gold morn,
Kind of you, thanks!
When, full of intense passions, lovers play flutes,
for beloved persuasions,
Echoes of songs and jingle sound
when come from each house,
Your presence, for only a short duration,
inhabited my deserted heart-home!
Kind of you, thanks!
When the evening comes with life and love,
On every crossroad, fair of lovers'-meet followed,
Crushed with the aspersions of the world
You awake again my broken ego!
Kind of you, thanks!
[46] CLOUDS HAVE HOVERED
Looking your intoxicating smile, clouds have gathered!
Feeling your eyes thirsty, clouds have hovered!
O, Young lady! your anklets are jingling,
Always, swing each pal1, your well-built, beautiful,
delicate body,
The charm of your appearance is now no more tolerable,
Seeing for a blink only, eyes are arrested!
Jhumer2 shines on the span of your bright-red-fair
forehead,
Your curly hair are flying frou-frou in the air,
Each limb of your beautiful body, bent with its own load,
Your flowered hem slips from the breast, over and over!
Hearing your song, the whole world faints,
Settling a world of much pleasure, it sleeps care-free,
Sinking in your song's tune, the ship of heart lost,
You overflow the stream of love — unknown and straight!
Indelible is, from my memory, your that meet at Panghat3,,
O, beautiful-faced! being restless when I said, ''You are very naughty!''
At that very moment your veil of shyness opened,
Your those wile less words were very charming and
intoxicating!
1 Equal to 24 seconds.
2 An ornament worn on the head.
3 A quay from which people draw water.
[47] SLEEP
At this moment, my eyes are becoming sleepy!
Night — coming from the sky, is patting;
like mother's gentle hands,
The hem, engraved with bright stars, is spreading,
Drowsy eyes feeling comfortable,
Ripples of shining nectar
are trickling from the moon-like face!
The resonance of your affectionate melodious song
is being heard, in the shaking of flowers and branches,
That very music is reverberating
from the side by stones, rivers and rivulets,
Melody is soothing the heart with delighted feelings!
The gates of eyelids have closed, but dreaming as —
I am sipping cool milk from someone's new breast,
Yes, well in senses too; know where am I,
A healthy fleshy, swaying-body-shadow is covering me!
[48] LIGHT THE LAMP
In my desolate home —
Darkness of ages is overspread,
Life-lamp was lighted — it's a dream,
As much affection is in you
I'll know — it is mine
If you kindle the lamp in my distressed heart!
What's this life from ages? — a desert,
Exists on the earth like a furnace,
Lonely path, again with full of waves of mirage,
I'll accept — there is a ocean of passion in you
If you bathe my sterile heart!
Each moment, coming and going
only of sandy storms,
What being built? — even the remaining collapses
I'll understand — the value of your songs
If you amuse my heart — a dry-pond!
It'll not be possible to remain alive
Even for a moment, for the body and heart,
of the wax-like vein,
No remedy, only to bear assaults silently,
I'll realize — the magic of tenderness
If you tickle the wounds of my stony heart!
[49] RESTLESS WITHIN
The heart is restless, today,
to talk something, Dear!
The monotonous prolonged silence
is burdensome, now,
When cool, wet, silvery ocean
is waving, continuously,
The heart is restless
To meet freely, Dear!
When young sprouts have overcast
in dry insipid creation,
Oh, I destined
only a solitary place,
The heart is restless
to unfold some secrets, Dear!
[50] MY MOON
My moon is away from me!
Solitary night is crying in empty sky,
The darkness is pouring down from all directions,
That's why, the brightness of lily is without glow!
God knows, in which loneliness writhes The Innocent!
There is a great risk to her life — Oh, she might have not taken poison,
Since, she is imprisoned in a towering mansion,
and helpless!
These eyes are looking continuously, with joy, hope and trust,
to each and every ray of light, rising in the horizon,
Because, it is true, she has certainly the yearning to meet!
[51] IN THE DARKNESS OF AMAVAS1
Behind which curtains of sky,
concealed is moon, at this time?
I am asking you,
O, silent glittering stars!
I am asking you,
O, incessantly flowing streams!
Beneath which depth, concealed is moon, at this time?
I am asking you,
O, free and slow gusts of wind!
By whom my moon is stolen
Run and stop him swiftly,
Beyond, too far from the eyes, concealed is moon, at this time!
I am asking you,
O, Trees! guards thousands,
Why are you standing quietly?
Call the name, with your full voice!
Away somewhere from my world, concealed is moon, at this time!
1 The last day of the dark half of a month.
[52] WE HAD MET
We had met, for some moments,
on the path of life!
The heavy burden of monotonous silence
had been lessened!
The deep dark smoke of tiredness and melancholy
had been emitted,
Acquiring you, pleasure waves waved
on the deserted heart and mind!
But, did the way of life
ever become man's destination?
Could ever remain overcast
cloudiness in the sky of happy Sawan?1
Just found out, how rare and valuable
are the moments of love,
Time and again, still resound
pieces of your song!
1 The fifth month of the Indian Calendar (Rainy month)
[53] IN VAIN
Day and night went astray, in every place,
To attain the world of happy heaven!
The buds bloomed or half-bloomed
When, swung to captivate the Madhup1!
Pined, in a lonely place
To get the gift of pleasurable aromatic body!
In life, what did and what not,
To get your love for a few moments!
Remain absorbed in perplexity continuously
To get the base-point of faith!
By putting the life at stake
Continued to play, knowing defeat as fore-decided!
1 A large black-bee
CONTINUED
[53 Lyrics]
Poet:
DR. MAHENDRA BHATNAGAR
Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar's is one of the significant post-independence voices in Hindi and Indian English Poetry, expressing the lyricism and pathos, aspirations and yearnings of the modern Indian intellect. Rooted deep into the Indian soil, his poems reflect not only the moods of a poet but of a complex age.
Born : 26 June 1926: Jhansi (U.P.), Edu. : M.A. (1948), Ph.D. (1957) from Nagpur University; Retd. Professor.
Several volumes of poetry in English and other languages are published, viz. In French 'A MODERN INDIAN POET : Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar : UN POÈTE INDIEN ET MODERNE; In English Forty Poems of Mahendra Bhatnagar After The Forty Poems Exuberance and other poems Dr.Mahendra Bhatnagar's Poetry Death Perception : Life Perception Passion and Compassion Poems : For A Better World A Handful of Light Lyric-Lute. etc. Poems are translated in most of the Indian languages.
Published research & critical studies :
(1) Living Through Challenges : A Study of Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar's Poetry
(2) Poet Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar : His Mind And Art.
Adviser — 'POETCRIT'. At present — Research Guide in many Indian Universities.
Contact :
110 BalwantNagar, Gandhi Road, Gwalior — 474 002 (M.P.) INDIA
Phone : 0751-4092908 / M-98934 09793
E-Mail : drmahendrabh@rediffmail.com
[1] GIFT OF GOLD
Dawn brought the gift of gold!
O, buds! wake up and get up,
fill the gift in anchal1,
Get decorated in golden appearance,
fill sweet feelings in red-roses,
Filling new brilliance in body,
Swing in new gusto,
In odorous cold ripples,
Every love-laden vein is heart-stealer!
Open the inner oriels-doors-windows all,
Now, never surround the visage in such darkness.
O, bathe in golden sea,
O, decorate the body with ornaments,
O, sing song of a new morn,
Let the heart-peacock dance lustrously!
1 Hem, Lap
[2] SONG OF THE DAWN
Ruddiness of the dawn infused love in the heart stealthily!
When fresh first ray fell on body
Ignorant playful heart became — a deer,
With the guileless raptures of love,
And the overwhelmed emotions of modesty,
Came cold breeze of dawn and made
the body aromatic!
Seeing dear dawn, when little lotus bloomed,
It appeared as if the gift of heaven was found,
Swinging branches wearing new ornaments,
How joyful is the atmosphere!
Filling golden tint, the dawn made earth fresh!
[3] BOATMAN
Evening is accumulating around, Boatman!
Filling tears in the eyes
now, somebody might have kindled the lamp,
And balancing the anklets
somebody might have sung the song,
Echoing the secret of the life,
continuously calling the sandy bank of the sea!
Splendour of the dawn is spreading around, Boatman!
Reddish-west-ward-direction-bride-like
Somebody might have decorated herself
in saffron auspicious,
Somebody's silvery love
might have dazzled like moon,
Turn the helm
towards the returning colourful birds,
Creation is entirely an illusion, Boatman!
[4] WHO ARE YOU?
Like redness of dawn
overcast the heart-sky,
who, you are?
Coloured the dull world with love,
Filled the mute world with sweet song,
Offered the golden world, so easily,
which is found only, in having a great fortune,
Like spring, perfumed the mango-groves,
who, you are?
Roaming in the lonely galleries of heart,
Swinging, embracing with fresh rays-arms,
Awoke my dream-beguiled deceptive life-conscience
by the act of caressing,
Allured me so much, like a sky-fairy,
who, you are?
Filled my void, dejected heart-lake
Gave tune to passion and compassion,
Shining new peaks of desires,
Made my love honest-auspicious-beautiful,
Charmed me so much,
O, pious!
who, you are?
[5] YOU EMBELLISHED IN SONG
You embellished my look in your song,
I'll embellish you in my heart with love!
Hue of tender feelings is filled,
Seeing it, fields light-green are blooming,
Don't give so much love, sustain a little,
When you inhabited me in your song
I shall stay you in my thoughts for ever!
You gave your arms to unsupported life,
You gave cloud-like shade to heated body,
And filled new desire to live,
You confessed your love in song
I shall express my heart — singing that song!
[6] YOU SMILED
You smiled, the lotus of my heart bloomed!
Seeing you, I rejoiced, I attained my attainable!
My moon! why did you raise
Tide in the ocean of life in such a way?
O, Beautiful lady! my ages' homeless love
Got support in you!
Now, a novice dream of love, inhabited in eyes!
O, charming cloud of Sawan1!
Why did you wet me like this?
O, Lightning! why you did so restlessly
embrace me in your arms with love?
May we never be detached, O, destiny! be kind!
1 The fifth month of the Indian Calendar (Rainy month)
[7] O, DESTINY
O, Destiny! the plant of my courtyard may not be dried!
It is the symbol of first sweet acquaintance,
May swing, wave and remain ever-green,
O, Destiny! the heart of my lover may not be hurt!
On the long rugged, lonely path
The life may pass joyfully,
O, Destiny! the heart of my heart-dweller
may never remain indifferent!
The world may never look us with ill-will,
The darkness of pain may go far away,
O, Destiny! my youth may never remain separation-burnt!
1The fifth month of the Indian Calendar (Rainy month)
[8] QUEEN DAWN
Simple-hearted pretty young queen-dawn is bathing
in blue sky-lake, delightfully!
Bound in love-act with Moon
she drank the lip-nectar whole night,
And redeemed it with her sacred love,
made the world fragrant
with fresh sweet-scented paint,
Thinking love-gestures, flows the reddish silky threads!
Whose face is filled with new hue of lotus,
As if carrying the feelings of satisfaction,
Blessed pleasing heart delighted
in sweet thoughts of her lover,
Without any purpose, diffusing water-drops,
every quarter in cheerful mood!
[9] PLEASANT MORNING
Every morning of life may be refreshing!
Stuff the laughter of spring,
of rivers, shores, moist banks,
of flowers, bracelets and garlands,
Every particle's tale may be a comedy!
Sweet songs of birds
Crazy love of raptures
Innermost waves of modesty,
Illusive world may not be strange!
With pleasing looks of love
Fill the world with desires,
with enfolding loving arms,
May youth be exciting and loving!
[10] SHORT LIFE
The world of flowers is ours!
We spend lavishly the bright laughter,
Fly sweet nectar of flowers,
Likable to us; the swinging of the wind,
Every thread of jingling heart is ours!
Take us to make garland,
Collect us to adorn the 'Maang'1
(of your beloved life-partner)
To inhabit your lonely dwelling,
Too innocent love is ours!
Don't shy, seeing us,
Don't express deceptive feelings,
Oh, don't tease so much!
The adornment of short duration is ours!
1 Parting line of hair (on a lady's head)
[11] MERRIMENT Of HOLI1
It's the month of 'Fagun'2, joy of Holi is all round,
Delightful ardent passions seen every where!
Beads studded in ears of corn, golden fields,
Unitedly are dancing merrily all around!
Showering love, East Wind is rambling,
Showing its green beauty, mustard is standing with unfold face!
Tabor, cymbals, drum are being played on in every village,
Accompanying are intoxicating new melodious words!
Wearing silver Payal3, O, girl-companion dance,
There has come desired lover, playful girl-friend, dance!
1 A Hindu festival.
2 The last month of the Indian Calendar..
3 An ornament for the ankles.
[12] HOLI
Holi, came once again, with varied new colours,
Holi, brought once again the intoxicated raptures!
Holi, once again came showering gold in the day,
Holi, hovered once again diffusing silver all the night!
Holi, Oh, when did fasten the tinkling bells in my feet!
Holi, being well executed the tune, has filled dancing gestures in body!
Holi, poured out in the heart forcibly intoxicating liquor,
Look, how our step-motions have become peculiar now!
Holi, we are playing drum in your welcome,
Holi, having intoxicated we are spreading Gulal1 all round!
1 Red farinaceous powder which Hindus throw on each other's person during the Holi festival.
[13] SONG OF EQUALITY
Let us bathe today
In the colours of human equality!
The light of those bright colours —
which is inherent in everybody's body and heart,
Mingle in the them
your dull shining twilight, now,
And just throw away
the collected age long concealed dirt!
Forget all differences of the world
of colour-caste, of money-rank-age,
Only echo in all directions
the sounds of victory of human glory and greatness,
Demolish today
the pride-fort of false dignity!
[14] LET US BURN
Let us burn
Sin instigating desires!
Let we become a new perfect human,
Completely free from inferiority, peerless,
Let us rejuvenate
The emotions of universal liking!
May there be no mutual antipathy,
Love for individual freedom may bloom,
Let us abolish
Trampled devilish servitude!
Life may not be hard at every foot-step,
Storm may not persist on sky all times,
Let us shed
Villainous, demoniacal, calamities!
[15] RAIN
(1)
Embracing fresh slaty clouds
Love-laden rain has come!
It gave, at ease, every dejected heart
the gift of sweet feelings!
(2)
Breaking the continuous monotonous sound
when creating a tune, clouds shower drizzling showers,
Then secret beauty of new-creation
Spreads uncovered to the far horizons!
(3)
Bearing new stirs in the pond of heart
Waves are dancing amorously,
In indistinct current of sweet sap
Oh, which drenched my life like this!
[16] KINDLE THE LAMP
Kindle lamp in every courtyard,
Celebrate the festival of lamps!
Golden light may spread in every home,
Visage may be attractive, each particle may be bright,
Sea of lustre may fluctuate!
Adorn the pitch dark night!
Filling roli1 in the night's lock of hair,
The glimmering innocent rays may dance,
Clouds of light may come overcastting,
Bathe, forgetting all remembrance!
Remain full with fresh love every heart,
Earth — wept for ages, be blessed,
Come O, fortunate wives! with worship plates
And flow lamps in the celestial Ganga!
1 The red powder which is used by Hindus in worship or in filling the maang of a married woman.
[17] GARLAND OF LAMPS
Enjoyment is spreading in each home, today!
With sweet exciting music
And with love brimming heart
Flamy lamps are dwelling in each home, today!
With youthful golden body
The glittering night
Is distributing laughter-gift in each home, today!
With lovely decoration
With raptures of recreation
Lamps are performing circular dance1 in each home, today!
1 A dance performed by Lord Krishna.
[18] INVESTITURE
Agreed, it is the dark Amavas! night,
But, why to be terrified?
Assume — in a moment
I kindle the bright radiant lamps,
Agreed, the appearance of dear earth is not graceful,
But, assume — in a wink,
With quite new art, I adorn a brand new bride again!
Tell darkness that now it is the rule of light,
Crown is adorned on the head of every lamp,
Assume — in some moments
I convene investiture in all quarters!
1 The last day of the dark half of a month.
[19] PUT ON LAMPS
(Girl) Friend! Put on lamps!
Dark night may not come now,
There may be no downpour of darkness any more,
In extinguishing lamps
Friend! Fill sneh1, quietly!
Face of lover may shine with laughter,
In the hope of coming suitable new time,
With reddish lips
Friend! Talk, gently!
Wet years of separation are passed
Blessed new passionate songs may echo,
Friend! the husband has come
Win his heart, silently!
1 Love, Affection / Oily substance
[20] ATTACHMENT FOR BEAUTY
Glittering beauty of someone doesn’t allow me to sleep!
Enchanting last quarter of the night,
The world is covered with dense darkness,
With lively cold waves of love
Smiles, attractive simple face of someone!
Heavy pain that I got
Is a diamond for my poor heart,
Collyrium, with tears of pleasant love,
Glimmering, inexperienced simple life-time of someone!
Charmed peacock-like delighted heart,
Restless arms eager to embrace the sky,
How hard-felt is the fire of separation,
Disturbing, sweet fragrance-memory
of someone!
[21] ILLUSION
Like magnolia-perfume your memory is impregnated my breaths!
Jasmine-like elegant, delicate-bodied, where are you?
Where is your rainbow-like glittering coloured appearance?
Mesmerizing1 me, your charming beauty is overspreading!
You, are like Kalp-latika2 for all human imaginations,
Made life a garden, full of Java3 flowers,
Losing all, I only silently flowed the celestial Ganga of my soul!
Where are you, my illusion, true?
Aasavari4 of my heart, dhoop-chhanh5 of my contentment
I have adorned my way of life-gallery
with your life-paintings!
1 Madhumati-mad (Trance-state / Half-conscious state)
2 According to Indian mythology, the tree of Lord Indra's paradise, which yields anything desired.
3 A red flower used in worship the idol of goddess.
4 A musical mode.
5 Cloth in which wrap and waft are of different colours.
[22] THE NIGHT IS PASSING!
Your memory is haunting,
The night is passing!
Today, in such a solitude of life
I awake in your thoughts,
The whole creation has slept,
Earth is singing a lullaby!
Many sights swing in the eyes,
Your each past talk seems alive,
Even, your casual looks of bygone days
Are appearing pleasant this day!
We are flowing in the stream of time,
But, O, sweet-heart! have faith in love,
Tomorrow, creeping-plant of heart will flourish,
Which is fading how much, now!
[23] THE NIGHT OF AGHAN1
During this cool night of aghan; Oh, I missed you!
Since evening, the lonely heart is very cumbersome,
Somewhat faded is the lotus of life —
helplessness of what sort!
Not known, how far is the golden morn!
Losing the riches of dreams,
eyes are helpless, heavy and empty,
Looking the course of destiny, with drops of tears,
Heart is throbbing like the leaf of peepal2 tree!
The hem of Rohini3 is far; silent moon weeps,
Wide-spread moonlight-sea is searching every corner,
Whom to tell the secret of heart!
1 Ninth month of the Indian Calendar (Margsheersh)
2 A holy tree of Hindus.
3 According to Hindu mythology, wife of moon. Fourth amongst twenty-seven constellations.
[24] YOU ARE AWAY
Dear! far way you are,
my heart is immensely restless!
Environment somewhat is strange, today,
As if somebody has snatched the essence of life,
Am I so unfortunate
being myself is the cause of separation-pain!
Simply, regretting silently,
Life — a gloomy night!
Missing somewhere the luminous-garland,
Disturbed sawan1 is showering at the door,
All alone am I
During the extreme end of the night,
Although, awakened, but forgotten every thing,
Eyes don't fall asleep even for a moment!
1 The fifth month of the Indian Calendar (rainy month)
[25] TO THE BELOVED
Otherwise, to remain far, like this
Why did you live in my heart?
Way of life is unknown
With provisions nil,
Storm is raising in the sky , in the heart,
No peace even for a moment,
Otherwise, to bear the burden alone
Why did you so fix thyself in my thoughts?
Oh, the fire — of life's dearths,
Is burning all around,
Depression is enclosed in my spirit,
Tired is the peacock of heart,
Otherwise, to burn so mutely
Why you impressed so much, the soul of my songs?
[26] BIRHIN1
O Dear, when will you spread
your innocent rosy smile!
Heart is out of sorts, lonely and very heavy,
O, merciful, touch my heart-beats,
This Birhin is waiting for you,
with heart full of life's burning pangs!
The vine of youth is fading in the sunlight,
Tell her about the sweet sensual love,
Wearing silver anklets
I wish to dance like a peahen to my heart's content!
Night is sleeping with her heart-stealer — Moon,
Every direction, like an emotional woman,
is vibrating with songs,
Hey, How to bear such an unknown sweet pain of heart!
1 A woman who is separated from her lover.
[27] WAITING
How many days passed
Dreams didn't come!
Entire night I remained wakeful,
Upset heart is unsteady like a peepal1-leaf,
Secret desires gathered and disappeared,
Dear husband didn't come!
Clouds making noise in the sky,
Peacocks dancing in forests — this and that,
My heart-stealer, Alas! has forgotten me,
Home didn't come!
Filling buds-flowers in the hem,
Set afloat lamps at the river-bank,
Longed eagerly to get the foot-dust,
Feet didn't come!
1 A holy tree of Hindus
[28] YEARNING
How much sweet dreams you bestowed,
But, arranged not the least love on earth!
Alone, I am searching in this world, for ages,
But, didn't get desired intimate friend anywhere,
Helplessly, time of life passed in hue and cry,
Couldn’t hear charming music for a moment,
You poured the milky oceans of smiles,
But, didn't drench a single heart with compassion!
On one side, you spread well adorned
colourful merriments of hundreds of springs,
And distributed, with both hands, in gratis
Jewels like Sun and Moon; bracelets of Star-flowers so,
But, on my prolific life-course
You didn't sow a single seed of sweetness!
[29] FILL WITH LOVE
O Dear, fill Sneh1 in my silently extinguishing lamp,
this day!
The wick may shine, and splendour spread,
World of mine may turn into a fresh golden appearance,
Everlasting smile may play on tear-drenched visage,
To the life — silent-troubled-cursed —
Give love-boon of worldly pleasures!
The door of my heart is closed for ages,
Strayed away and wandered in darkness — my love,
Every string of my life-harp is broken,
Sinking in the worldly ocean,
Give him arms, give him voice of faith!
1 Love, Oily substance
[30] VIGIL
Far somewhere, continuously
Sweetly, the harp is being played!
Intoxicating night has come,
Every quarter is intoxicated,
Remembrance recurrent in the mind,
Consciousness immersed in the thoughts of beloved!
The world is sleeping silently,
Lost in sweet dreams,
In absence of water-like look of the beloved
eyes transfigured themselves into fish!
Filled with hope and despair,
Infused with thirst of life,
The heart is restless, silent and sad!
Every moment is weeping,
Oh, what sort of calamity has fallen down
As if everything of mine was snatched!
[31] DECEPTION
Whom I thought boon
Same became a curse!
New moon had just glittered,
Clouds, at once, spread in the sky,
As soon as the garden became fragrant
Thunderbolts flashed on the head,
Whom I considered propitious and sacred
Same became a bitter sin!
Getting whom I decorated dreams of life,
They became only ironies of fate,
On whom gold reflected bright light,
Same are smeared now with ashes,
Whom I considered the essence of pleasure
Same became more and more painful!
[32] NO MORE
On my sky, no more, the moon will rise!
In your memory, the whole life will pass,
Ought to cross the dark lonely path,
How this load of sad life will be sustained!
Losing the raptures;
calm, helpless, mute, fruitless heart,
Losing the waves of emotions,
perpetually immersed in sadness, poor heart,
The tide of excitement
will not remain in the ocean of life, any more!
Love-delighted, joy-filled, rainbow-coloured Holi,
Passion-drenched Pancham Rag1, echoing in the garden,
Never known, destiny will swallow, this way!
1 The fifth note in music; acknowledged as the note of cuckoo's cooing.
[33] DAWN JUST TO APPEAR
Don't shed tears more,
The dawn is approaching!
All lamps are extinguished
Came such a hurricane,
All supports are demolished,
Browbeat the clouds of annihilation,
Being defeated, O, Traveler! Don't stagger,
The dawn is approaching!
Stream is overflowing, leaving its course helplessly,
Horrible darkness is overcast —
Intoxicated ... unrestrained,
Don't relinquish the hope in the advent of Sun,
The dawn is approaching!
[34] YOU
Truly, how innocent you are!
Gestures are beyond your comprehension,
Sweet feelings of your heart can't be perceived,
Engrossed in yourself, indeed you are
The companion of supernatural fairies!
You are not formal in the least, for a moment,
Even then, heaven knows, how you remain in my mind!
Becoming a spring-air,
You loiter — forest to forest!
[35] DON'T BE HARD-HEARTED
Dear! don't look towards me
with such extraordinary large eyes!
Don't reflect so much lunar-attraction,
on flooded heart,
I touch your feet, please take aside
the lustre of your beauty,
Or, throwing tie of silky rays,
arrest me in your eyes!
No more shower the pleasant love-nectar
on the surface of my mind,
This is not proper, after enchanting,
pine the heart, like this,
Allow me, at least to touch
your sparkled flower-marked hem!
In this rainfall of beauty,
impressed-wet-heart is forgetting the way,
Mind, you shall be responsible,
if overflowing ocean of youth breaks limits,
Will you come nearer,
don't be so hard-hearted!
[36] THE BEAM
The innocent beam of the moon
is descending with joy!
Seeing the whole creation slept,
On the unhindered silvery sky-route
Taking upon body-parts,
cautiously putting the speedy footsteps!
Remaining free, trampled the route,
Every village, house, street and city,
Neither remained a little calm-quiet,
nor performed her routine night-sleep!
[37] WHO SAYS
Who says, my moon is not a living being?
My moon laughs and smiles excellently,
Plays and then hides herself far off,
Who says, my moon's heart doesn’t palpitate?
Throughout the night she also remembers someone,
Observe, she also sighs in separation, often,
Who says, my moon is not in full youth?
She ever gives to the world coolness,
She ever showers dense nectar-rain,
Who says, my moon is not able
to give sandalwood-like soothing sensations?
[38] SPRING
Today, Dear! every limb is full of gusto,
as the spring has come!
Far off green fields are waving,
Full with fresh odour breeze is roaming,
Experiencing strange feelings birds are singing,
Today, Dear! genuine feeling of love
occupied the heart!
The garden bloomed with varied flowers and leaves,
Silently, sky is singing the song, moving to and fro,
Dawn is blushed, being an auspicious moment for union,
full of newness, freshness, oddness!
[39] SAWAN1 HAS COME
Sing, Dear! the songs of love!
Lively sawan has come,
Clouds of love are pouring down,
Far away, in the fields
watery, contented, grand greenery smiles,
On the branches, agile buds burst into laughter
Spilling cups full of ambrosia,
Don't go far from my presence,
Come and persist in my life!
Cool breeze is blowing,
Whispering something in the ear,
Musical notes, during bird's union,
are reverberating in the garden,
The heart of the earth is palpitating,
Influenced by the silent and loving attraction
of the creation,
Particles of the world are being in motion,
With the feeling of disinclination,
You please don't go, avoiding me like this!
1 The fifth month of the Indian Calendar (Rainy month)
[40] CLOUD AND MOON
Moon is playing hide and seek
with fragments of clouds in the sky!
The moon is beautiful, charming, attractive
and fair-bodied,
Why is so absorbed; while the cloud is ugly and black,
Can anyone tell,
how happened such an improbable, this night?
Both are constantly flying
But as the cloud laughs, intense passionate moon
Then, caught himself, in both the arms of the cloud,
Who can say, who'll lose the chance!
By running , both have approximately measured
The sky with footsteps,
Both have a bit taken and a bit given, today,
May this pretty pair live long and remain ever youthful!
[41] REQUEST
Dear, come and buzz
the chord of my dormant heart!
Resplendent moonlight is spread in sky and earth,
Night, as if lost in herself, is silent,
And how lovely you are — O, exciting lady!
Bring me under control
and fill intense passions in me, for a moment!
Intoxicating red are the beautiful lips.
Eyes are more innocent simple than a doe,
Body is fair-skinned — like lightening, glass and water,
Arms are like branches — new and fleshy,
Just now, hum a sweet new song
Full of life!
The world is more beautiful than heaven,
Every quarter is echoing,
Hey, this love is acceptable to the world,
O Dear Partner! long-awaited
sweet union-festival, now celebrate!
[42] IN MOONLIGHT
Bathe in new moonlight, bathe!
Today, stars slept, shutting their eyes,
A few are running towards the horizon,
Untied now our hearts' knots,
On the bed of beam, celebrate the love-night!
Gusts of wind singing union-songs,
Sweet notes have moved the heart,
New dreams are staying again,
Laugh and remove the curtain of hitch!
Youth awoke moving and smiling,
Unfolding and shying, came nearer,
Brought many respectful-persuasions,
Beautiful-faced! Don't hold yourself forcibly, any more!
Somebody embraced the black-bee,
Passionately slept in the odourous embrace,
Caressing with love, swung in the cradle,
O, bashful lady! Capture me too!
[43] WHAT WRONG I DID
Tell, what wrong I did with you?
You were half-bloomed tender bud,
When you met me first by oversight,
I too had an experience insufficient,
It was difficult to control myself for a moment,
That's why, I accepted you as mine forever!
In panorama of life, the night was dark,
Both were lost in themselves, had no aim,
When I was standing alone and confused
Love! I found you surrendering yourself,
That moment, you offered me all your love,
preserved through ages!
You did not stop my embracing hand,
You were free from any anxiety,
surely, there was no deception,
You came in my lock-up, without uttering a word,
As if I got the boon in its body-form,
How simple, mute, innocent, crazy the heart was!
[44] THE SONG OF SEPARATION
Your devoted love is now with you!
The life of mine is the night of Amavas1,
It's only a matter of repentance,
Today, my home is deserted,
Humming on silent lips is the song of separation,
But, happy I am —
A pleasant world is now around you!
I was destined for the mirage,
Even the dainty nectar turned sharp poison,
Near acquaintance has now become tentacles ,
Previous meetings became painful, at this moment,
But, happy I am —
Auspicious adornment is now in your lot!
Life is full of tornadoes,
Without sneh2, how long the lamp will alight,
The terrible tide is advancing
The helm, which was in hand, has fallen,
But, happy I am —
You stand on firm foundation, now!
1 The last day of the dark half of a month.
2 Love, Oily substance.
[45] THANKS
You bestowed
blooming-lotus-like transient smile to closed lips,
Kind of you, thanks!
Full-blown spring was scattered
On every branch of the world,
When each whit of the earth played fresh Holi,
Echoing my heart's silent space, you sang a melodious song!
Kind of you, thanks!
Dense-open woods covered in cool rays of the full moon,
When new lamps of hope used to flicker,
in the hearts of everyone,
In my darkness of ages,
you brought that glimmering gold morn,
Kind of you, thanks!
When, full of intense passions, lovers play flutes,
for beloved persuasions,
Echoes of songs and jingle sound
when come from each house,
Your presence, for only a short duration,
inhabited my deserted heart-home!
Kind of you, thanks!
When the evening comes with life and love,
On every crossroad, fair of lovers'-meet followed,
Crushed with the aspersions of the world
You awake again my broken ego!
Kind of you, thanks!
[46] CLOUDS HAVE HOVERED
Looking your intoxicating smile, clouds have gathered!
Feeling your eyes thirsty, clouds have hovered!
O, Young lady! your anklets are jingling,
Always, swing each pal1, your well-built, beautiful,
delicate body,
The charm of your appearance is now no more tolerable,
Seeing for a blink only, eyes are arrested!
Jhumer2 shines on the span of your bright-red-fair
forehead,
Your curly hair are flying frou-frou in the air,
Each limb of your beautiful body, bent with its own load,
Your flowered hem slips from the breast, over and over!
Hearing your song, the whole world faints,
Settling a world of much pleasure, it sleeps care-free,
Sinking in your song's tune, the ship of heart lost,
You overflow the stream of love — unknown and straight!
Indelible is, from my memory, your that meet at Panghat3,,
O, beautiful-faced! being restless when I said, ''You are very naughty!''
At that very moment your veil of shyness opened,
Your those wile less words were very charming and
intoxicating!
1 Equal to 24 seconds.
2 An ornament worn on the head.
3 A quay from which people draw water.
[47] SLEEP
At this moment, my eyes are becoming sleepy!
Night — coming from the sky, is patting;
like mother's gentle hands,
The hem, engraved with bright stars, is spreading,
Drowsy eyes feeling comfortable,
Ripples of shining nectar
are trickling from the moon-like face!
The resonance of your affectionate melodious song
is being heard, in the shaking of flowers and branches,
That very music is reverberating
from the side by stones, rivers and rivulets,
Melody is soothing the heart with delighted feelings!
The gates of eyelids have closed, but dreaming as —
I am sipping cool milk from someone's new breast,
Yes, well in senses too; know where am I,
A healthy fleshy, swaying-body-shadow is covering me!
[48] LIGHT THE LAMP
In my desolate home —
Darkness of ages is overspread,
Life-lamp was lighted — it's a dream,
As much affection is in you
I'll know — it is mine
If you kindle the lamp in my distressed heart!
What's this life from ages? — a desert,
Exists on the earth like a furnace,
Lonely path, again with full of waves of mirage,
I'll accept — there is a ocean of passion in you
If you bathe my sterile heart!
Each moment, coming and going
only of sandy storms,
What being built? — even the remaining collapses
I'll understand — the value of your songs
If you amuse my heart — a dry-pond!
It'll not be possible to remain alive
Even for a moment, for the body and heart,
of the wax-like vein,
No remedy, only to bear assaults silently,
I'll realize — the magic of tenderness
If you tickle the wounds of my stony heart!
[49] RESTLESS WITHIN
The heart is restless, today,
to talk something, Dear!
The monotonous prolonged silence
is burdensome, now,
When cool, wet, silvery ocean
is waving, continuously,
The heart is restless
To meet freely, Dear!
When young sprouts have overcast
in dry insipid creation,
Oh, I destined
only a solitary place,
The heart is restless
to unfold some secrets, Dear!
[50] MY MOON
My moon is away from me!
Solitary night is crying in empty sky,
The darkness is pouring down from all directions,
That's why, the brightness of lily is without glow!
God knows, in which loneliness writhes The Innocent!
There is a great risk to her life — Oh, she might have not taken poison,
Since, she is imprisoned in a towering mansion,
and helpless!
These eyes are looking continuously, with joy, hope and trust,
to each and every ray of light, rising in the horizon,
Because, it is true, she has certainly the yearning to meet!
[51] IN THE DARKNESS OF AMAVAS1
Behind which curtains of sky,
concealed is moon, at this time?
I am asking you,
O, silent glittering stars!
I am asking you,
O, incessantly flowing streams!
Beneath which depth, concealed is moon, at this time?
I am asking you,
O, free and slow gusts of wind!
By whom my moon is stolen
Run and stop him swiftly,
Beyond, too far from the eyes, concealed is moon, at this time!
I am asking you,
O, Trees! guards thousands,
Why are you standing quietly?
Call the name, with your full voice!
Away somewhere from my world, concealed is moon, at this time!
1 The last day of the dark half of a month.
[52] WE HAD MET
We had met, for some moments,
on the path of life!
The heavy burden of monotonous silence
had been lessened!
The deep dark smoke of tiredness and melancholy
had been emitted,
Acquiring you, pleasure waves waved
on the deserted heart and mind!
But, did the way of life
ever become man's destination?
Could ever remain overcast
cloudiness in the sky of happy Sawan?1
Just found out, how rare and valuable
are the moments of love,
Time and again, still resound
pieces of your song!
1 The fifth month of the Indian Calendar (Rainy month)
[53] IN VAIN
Day and night went astray, in every place,
To attain the world of happy heaven!
The buds bloomed or half-bloomed
When, swung to captivate the Madhup1!
Pined, in a lonely place
To get the gift of pleasurable aromatic body!
In life, what did and what not,
To get your love for a few moments!
Remain absorbed in perplexity continuously
To get the base-point of faith!
By putting the life at stake
Continued to play, knowing defeat as fore-decided!
1 A large black-bee
CONTINUED
Thursday, October 18, 2007
LYRIC - LUTE — 3 [19 Lyrics]
LYRIC-LUTE — 3
[19 Lyrics]
Poet:
DR. MAHENDRA BHATNAGAR
Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar's is one of the significant post-independence voices in Hindi and Indian English Poetry, expressing the lyricism and pathos, aspirations and yearnings of the modern Indian intellect. Rooted deep into the Indian soil, his poems reflect not only the moods of a poet but of a complex age.
Born : 26 June 1926: Jhansi (U.P.), Edu. : M.A. (1948), Ph.D. (1957) from Nagpur University; Retd. Professor.
Several volumes of poetry in English and other languages are published, viz. In French 'A MODERN INDIAN POET : Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar : UN POÈTE INDIEN ET MODERNE; In English Forty Poems of Mahendra Bhatnagar After The Forty Poems Exuberance and other poems Dr.Mahendra Bhatnagar's Poetry Death Perception : Life Perception Passion and Compassion Poems : For A Better World A Handful of Light Lyric-Lute. etc. Poems are translated in most of the Indian languages.
Published research & critical studies :
(1) Living Through Challenges : A Study of Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar's Poetry
(2) Poet Dr. Mahendra Bhatnagar : His Mind And Art.
Adviser — 'POETCRIT'. At present — Research Guide in many Indian Universities.
Contact :
110 BalwantNagar, Gandhi Road, Gwalior — 474 002 (M.P.) INDIA
Phone : 0751-4092908 / M-98934 09793
E-Mail : drmahendrabh@rediffmail.com
SING
Sing; so that life a lyric may become !
Man is helpless at each step,
Each silvery love-dream is shattered,
Sunken in sea of tears
The sun of hope is far, far away,
Sing, so that each particle a friend may become !
Surrounded on all sides is darkness dense
Hurt is each heart, full of pain,
Shall mute cover of troubles life-long
For ever remain thus overhead?
Sing, that defeat victory may become !
Breath is overcast with helplessness-suffocation,
Smoldering is life smarting-burning fed,
Full of poisonous dense-dust particles
Is sky of man’s wishes,
Sing, so that suffering a music may become !
A WISH
Let life flow freely,
Let it lead to victory!
Let each one find solace
Under the tree-shade of blessings!
Let there be songs played day and night
On the harp of the soul!
Let sweet dreams ever come
And bring pleasure and laughter!
Let no one be sad
Let laughter ring!
Let each man become gold
Made pure in the inner fire!
Let each one bear bravely
The knocks of the unknown fate!
WHO ARE YOU
Who are you long-lost in waiting,
So awake in the dark mid-night?
Clouds of darkness are fleeing fast
From end to end of universe,
The atmosphere is calm and quiet
And without a wink
The stars stare in sky
Who are you, sweet ! so awake
In the company of galaxy of stars?
Whose lamp is it burning
With light new at the door?
It is illuminating the path,
Light is reaching out far beyond,
What is this lamp, flickering alone
In the face of the furious wind?
Again and again to-day
Strikes somebody the chords of heart-lyre
And from black lustrous eyes now and then
Flows down love on both the cheeks,
What is that agony
Touching the heart of lotus full awake at night?
TO THE MOON
Please smile not and tempt me thus,
Or else I shall kiss your cheeks!
Yes, lavishly endowed with beauty you are
Your graceful eyes reflect the dream world of happiness
Where dance the naked damsels
Where new beauties enter and add to glamour
Go and join the beauty parade
Please shed not your lustre here!
How stealthy are your steps
Like a thief you traversed the sky
But no sooner the golden sun withdraws
All your lustre bewitching spreads out,
Cover not your limbs with attempt so vain!
For ages past I have seen you so mute
Tell me please, I ask, "Who are you?"
Now never shall you escape from view
Strewn is the entire court-yard with your treasure to-day
Please pause in your path
and enshrine me softly in your heart!
THE BEAUTY OF THE SLEEPING MOON
Cosy lies the moon on the star-spangled carpet!
So care-free physically,
Mentally so free from worries;
And so content with life
Holding somebody's loving 'Anchal'!
Cosy lies the moon on the star-spangled carpet!
With feelings all anew,
With imaginations all novel,
With desires all maiden;
And with a heart full of a world of dreams!
Cosy lies the moon on the star-spangled carpet!
With happiness oozing out of every breath,
With nectar like hopes,
And thirst eternal;
Clasping light luminous to his heart!
Cosy lies the moon on the star-spangled carpet!
MOON LIGHT
Giving herself airs the moonlight approaches me,
Knowing me alone, the moonlight beguiles me ever!
Slowly on the parapets comes down the moonlight,
Lovely and sweet song sings the queenly moonlight!
On my roof and tin-shade spreads the moonlight,
With my hands and face openly plays the moonlight!
Sleeps not herself nor allows others, the moonlight,
At dawn, nobody knows where flees the moonlight!
This moonlight speaks not to me none knows why,
Fills the heart with strange nectar of love this moonlight!
NO GRIEVANCE
No grievance have I against you today!
The helpless eyes conceal the whole secret
The pleasant pictures of our meeting
Are enshrined in the heart,
I think over and over again,
Far far away a new path search I!
No habit though have I of forgetfulness Dear!
No grievance have I against you today!
Willingly or unwillingly sweet dreams
I sometimes enjoy;
Thus intoxicated I conjure up your image
No harm if I smile,
And create a new world of my own;
No mischief indeed is this!
No grievance have I against you today!
Sometimes even a tree embraces a creeper lone,
The tired Lotus also takes the Bee in the cosy petal-fold
When she shields and shrinks
Your memory torments me all the more
Beauty of the universe is nobody's pawn!
No grievance have I against you today!
LUST FOR LIFE
The man lives on
By the cravings of love!
The lightnings crash near him,
The tornadoes roar and rage around him,
But a faith mysterious
Over brims his heart,
And sleeps he cosy and comfortable
In the shade of dreams and visions splendid!
The man lives on by the cravings of love!
In front of him mountain peaks dizzy,
Around him yawn chasms deep
But fired with faith divine
The man moves on
To get comrades genial
On his way eternal!
The man lives on by the cravings of love!
The death's orchestra plays on,
The mango-groves once jubilant and gay
Are silent and deserted now;
But with faith divine
In the midst of tears and sighs
The man laughs on!
The man lives on by the cravings of love!
WINTER
Wet and heavy is the night,
And far away is sleep!
A deep murkiness is all around,
And a long way off is the crimson morning,
All sounds are still,
At such a time, why are you silent,
Do share a secret with me!
The fog rains quietly,
Cooled has been the sky's heat,
Silently meet the earth and sky,
At such a moment be with me,
Or else, the cold body will shiver!
Only the silence reigns
Trees sway beyond the fields,
Unexpectedly do the doors rattle,
Do not open the window and peep out,
There is intoxicating wind lies in wait!
WINTER-WET
Slowly descended
The dew-drops
All through the night!
An ice-cold silence
Shields the sleeping earth,
On leaves and flowers danced
The love-puppet night,
The artist mist
Constructed a canopied dwelling!
Here, there and everywhere,
Like scattered diamonds are drops of water,
Stealthily prowl about
The gusts of wind,
Like a guard
Woke the waterfall ringing!
Lively is the gathering
Presided over by the night,
Her lover tightly held in her arms,
Wakes and sleeps the beloved,
Hidden somewhere
Is the frightened dawn !
O WIND!
O wind!
Come, tuning a song,
Come, sweeping,
Shaking the boughs
Come, raising the dust!
Lovely fragrance filled
O vital Eastern Wind!
Come skipping
Over the distant mountain-peak!
O Wind!
Mad and over-brimming with youth
Come, kissing
These new green leaves
Come, humming a tune,
Come strewing the shreds of cloud!
Drunk and forgetful of mind,
Drunk and forgetful of body,
With laughter bubbling
Sweet and vivacious,
Vibrating the heart strings
Come, dancing!
O Wind!
NEW LIFE
Man's life is filled with helpless moments;
The days and nights are all dark and dreary
And the stale talk of those dire needs
Rap my heart —
How long will it take the rains to come?
The song of life is left half-sung — never done!
The same old dreams deceive as yet,
And the heart is filled
With those very lusts, throbs and commotions —
How long will it take a new world to bear?
My life is filled with dreary moments!
The hot winds blow
Howling at the nests,
Scaring me to wonder —
How long will it take the spring to bloom?
My life is fading amidst autumn's dead leaves!
My fatigue-intoxicated body aches
And my heart is rendered
Weak, helpless and demoralized —
How long will it take to beam a smile?
My life becomes a show of skeleton!
Man's morrow is bright and gay,
Be it though not a better path,
Strewn with thorns, an intractable path,
But he tramples down the thorns
Alleviating adversities comes then
the New Life beaming smiles!
Mitigating darkness comes then
the New Life showering light!
WE KNOW IT WELL
We'll march removing hurdles,
Cleaving the dark
We'll march!
For, we know it well —
That lightning flashes not in the blaze of noon!
Awake, incessantly shall we proceed
Erecting an edifice anew.
For, we know it well —
That youth falters not — no, never!
The opposing gales will gaze in wonder,
And the adversities will then quickly end;
For, we know it well —
That the breaths of the undaunted
are wasted not — no, never!
KEEP AWAKE
(1)
Keep awake, in this world till dawn!
There is terror all around,
The wounded humanity weeps
Bear the strokes, till people are united!
Let each man be free from bondage
Fight against the current
Till the people's strife to victory rages!
Fight death,
Do not give up
Move towards the goal, do not stop
Till the savages are broken and defeated!
(2)
REMAIN WATCHFUL
Remain awake
till it is morning the world over!
Fear frowns everywhere,
hurt humanity is wailing,
bear the brunt
till organized protests ensue!
Let every man be free from confinement,
contend against the tide,
till the flaring up of
the victory war of masses.
Fight death, feel not tired,
march unto the end, stop not
till the tormenters cower and crumble!
HELPLESS
If life is pain,
Then bear its pangs
We must!
If life is a secret,
Then remain silent
We must!
If there is no harbour
Then row on
We must!
If life is a calamity
Then be washed away
We must!
If fire surrounds us,
Then burn constantly
We must!
How terrible is truth!
Then utter every falsehood
We must!
ONE NIGHT
Like a flash of lightening
You came in the dark sky of my life!
In my arms you swung
When swayed freely the month of sawan1!
Like a shruti2 tune you rang
When the kajali3 was heard outside!
Like the music of anklets you chimed
When the tri-yama4 became fragrant!
Standing near the tulsi5 in the courtyard
You shone resplendent, O the only one!
Like a flame you glowed
Coming in my forlorn home and courtyard!
1 The fifth month of the Indian Calendar (rainy month)
2 A minute part of a musical note produced at the time of carrying one musical note to another.
3 A type of folk-song sung by ladies during Bhadon (a rainy month) festival.
4 Third part of the night — a time of union of husband & wife.
5 A famous basil plant. It is considered holy by Hindus and worshipped in their courtyards.
SUDDENLY
(1)
Today I remembered you,
My heart resounded with song !
As if the sound of Anhad1 echoed in my heart !
After years,
O, after years!
Your company was the only truth,
Your hand the only protection,
Everything has disappeared, but
The ecstasy of each lived moment remains!
Ages have entered oblivion,
Sowing dreams in nights,
But those sweet images
Have always inhabited my life!
1
(2)
Your memory flashed up today
and titillated my mind,
after ages,
many years.
Your company
was a palpable fact,
your hand a handy armour.
Every thing is lost in the past
frequent infatuation persists.
Ages have gone by
slowly, gradually,
nursing dreams every night,
but those sweet kaleidoscopic pictures
have been the inspiration of life.
WELCOME
The blooming orchid in my yard
strews a multi-shaded grandeur sweet.
Her soft and silky tangled tresses
have a perfect shiny gloss.
She has snugness in her arms
and an insight in her eyes.
Naively she squeaks like a sparrow
and warbles dulcet notes.
Lanky and fresh
as if dangling from a tree twig
she feels bestowed upon the riches divine
and seems gloating over all her lot.
She appears thoroughly satisfied
adorned as she with trinkets fine.
The orchid is blooming
the beauteous blossom in my yard.
(To my grand-daughter baby Ira)
PASSION AND COMPASSION
You create music [rhythm] in heart,
I will sing the song of life!
In this way
Let our age go on dwindling,
Let the throbbing breaths in our hearts
Move on!
Let the waving wick of love
Go on burning in both of our hearts!
Let the mutual emotion and compassion
Of our living souls
Go on cherishing!
You tell a story
Of enchanting love,
Listening which
I can sleep peacefully,
for a while!
And lose myself
In sweet and charming dreams
Forsaking my entire grief!
You make your tears of love
Overflow towards me,
I will make
The splendour of heaven
To stoop down
At your feet!
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