THE HUNTER
R.
S. SUDARSHANAM
(Translated
from the Telugu by the author)
Melancholy
darkens sky’s visage
The
cloud-forest is where Shiva hunts
The
third-eye flaming open
The
trident-lightning strikes home
Sky’s
water-bearer, the forest-boar
Thunder-loud
cries; dying agony
Shakes
the forest, rends the sky.
Lo,
the sky is moved to song!
Rains
nectar of amrita-varshini *
My
melted ego, a
Plays
over memories’ stones and pebbles
Image-showing
mirrors, snow-white pearls,
Wavy
tresses of feminine grace,
Deep-quenching
drinks–life’s waters
Stand,
hang, flow and quickly run
Thro’ my veins.
The
One whose head-gear is the sky now
Bends
his bow and plies star-arrows
–O,
it’s an endless shower of light
The
wound of my heart
’S
become
The divine eye.
*
A Raaga in Carnatic music.