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The
Literary Shelf
Amaru – The Lyric
Poet – 3
Amaru's Verses on Man-Women Love:
-
 She
used to pass singing, but since that very handsome boy caressed her, she
does not sing, and all is sad on the road she used to take. Why, Madahi, are
you so desolate? Is there only one very handsome boy between the Red
Mountain and the seashore?
-
This dancer pleases you, but there are fifteen coveting her. Therefore
carelessly drop an incendiary phrase into the conversation, say that the
talent of the poet Sadasa is open to discussion, or that the army of
Kamatrasnu is not invincible. Let it work upon heated nerves, and the walls
will soon be shaking. Do not wait until your companions come to blows, but
make a sign to the dancer.
-
He entered the house of his mistress after long journeys, trembling with
desire, emotion and impatience. And he found her surrounded by women
friends, who took malicious pleasure in prolonging their visit. But she was
more eager still, and crying: ‘Ah, something bites me!’ lifted her veil and
fanned out the flame of the only torch with it. So that the guests departed.
-
'Now may Love break my heart in a hundred and fifty-two pieces, put out the
fire of my eyes, render me as thin as a harp, if I value that faithless boy
more than a last year’s nail-paring!’ And then she cast an impatient glance
along his usual footpath.
-
Her husband committed a small fault, and she recalled the eternal perfidious
counsel of her women. She bore herself violently, thinking to frighten him;
but he only remembered the unchanging sweetness of a certain girl.
Amaru's Verses on Woman-Women Love:
-
The girls washing their clothes
make such a wanton babbling that I cannot hear what you say. Come near. Sit
on my bed. Now you were saying?…She knotted her arms about my neck, her
breath to my breath, and her lips set to mine.
-
‘Caress my breasts with your
fingers, they are small and you have neglected them. Enough! Now set your
mouth just there immediately. Oh, why have you delayed so long?’ She was
stifling her cries in her friend’s hair…
-
Yesterday he took hold of my
breasts by guile. Do you hear that? He took hold of my breasts. Also he
kissed me by force this morning and tore my lips.
You lie!
Look at these wounds.
I cannot believe my eyes. I must taste them, taste them. I must taste them.
-
And you love him?
Indeed I do.
Do you not know that I also love?
I was afraid so. Now there are two of us to love him. Even if one of us dies
he will have a mistress.
You? You die?
We never know.
O Sadahi, star of my day, have you not understood that it is you I
love, and that I am jealous?
– Compiled by
Aparna Chatterjee
April 16, 2005
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