("We both live in the same village...")
Poems
XI
I asked of Destiny, "Tell me who with relentless hand
pushes me on?"
Destiny told me to look behind.
I turned and saw my own self behind pushing forward the
self in front. XII
With a glance of your eyes you could plunder all the
wealth of songs struck from poets' harps, fair woman!
But for their praises you have no ear; therefore do I come
to praise you.
You could humble at your feet the proudest heads of all
the world;
But it is your loved ones, unknown to fame, whom you
choose to worship; therefore I worship you.
Your perfect arms would add glory to kingly splendor
with their touch;
But you use them to sweep away the dust, and to make
clean your humble home; therefore I am filled with
awe.
XIII
We both live in the same village and that is our one piece
of joy.
The yellow bird sings in their tree and makes my heart
dance with gladness.
Her pair of pet lambs come to graze near the shade of our
garden.
If they stray into our barley field I take them up in my
arms.
The name of our village is Khanjuna, and Anjana they
call our river;
My name is known to all the village and her name is
Ranjana.
Only one field lies between us.
Bees that have hived in our grove go to seek honey in
theirs.
Flowers launched from their landing stairs come floating
by the stream where we bathe.
Baskets of dried kusm flowers come from their fields to
our market.
The name of our village is Khanjuna, and Anjana they
call our river;
My name is known to all the village and her name is
Ranjana.
The lane that winds to their house is fragrant in the
spring with mango flowers.
When their linseed is ripe for harvest, the hemp is in
bloom in our field.
The stars that smile on their cottage send us the same
twinkling look.
The rain that floods their tank makes glad our Kadam
forest.
The name of our village is Khanjuna, and Anjana they
call our river;
My name is known to all the village and her name is
Ranjana.
Structure
56 lines · 3 stanzas