THE LOO*
CHANDRA
SINGH
(Translated
from the Rajasthani by
Below
the earth burns red-hot
like an iron plate,
above
the deep blue burns red-hot,
all around it is the same:
life is trapped in a pit of fire.
The
buds opened
and advanced to meet
the on-coming rays,
but soon retreated, hurt,
seeing the onrush of
delirious loo.
O
Terrible Loo!
You
have sapped
all enchanting smell of Spring,
the buds lost themselves before their bloom,
the petals fell off wizened one by one
wasting trees.
The
sun with his mighty looks
has ravaged the darling earth,
seeing her agony, the cold
heart
of the
and ran in waves.
The
lovers at their rendezvous
rush to hug each other,
the sizzling loo
rolls between the longing hearts
they come closer but stand apart!
*
Hot winds that blow in summer in Rajasthan.