ODE TO THE CLOUD
By S. K. DAS
(Translated
by L. N. Sahu from the original poem in Oriya)
[Champu–a harmonious blend of lyric and song–forms a
substantial part of Oriya literature, and was introduced by Kavisurya–a
poet born in 1789 A. D. Few readers can fail to observe the natural sweetness
of the verse picked up from the poet’s Sangit
Kalpalata, the single-hearted
straight-forwardness of thought, and, not less, the fancy and the poetic
passion which characterised Oriya poetry of those
times.]
Why dost thou blow thy
trumpet thus aloud!
Thou hast not earned a
jot of the softer wealth of my Love, O Cloud!
See’st
thou the girdle of pearls that adorn my Love’s breast?
Alas! with what sense dost thou garland the rugged mountain’s
crest
With
dewy drops, O Cloud?
Why dost thou blow thy
trumpet thus aloud?
Is there a one on
earth, or in a world below, or in a heaven above,
That can match the
movements of the frolicsome brow of my young Love?
The rainbow thou dost
flaunt
Is but an empty vaunt,
Then O Cloud
Why dost thou blow thy
trumpet thus aloud?
Why dost thou brag and
bluster?
Thy solace is but the
lightning’s sport?
Behold her thou a
little her frail frame’s lustre
From beneath her blue
clothes’ cluster!
Then, O Cloud,
Why dost thou blow thy
trumpet thus aloud?
Hitchest
thou thy hope on heavy hails?
But that also fails;
See’st
thou not the lovely trails
On her lips that her
half-blown smile regales?
Then, why, O Cloud,
Dost thou blow thy
trumpet thus aloud?
Think’st
thou there’s none thy glossy dark to surpass?
Ah, can it be lovelier
than the sapphire chamar, the braid of
my Love, my lass?
Then, why O Cloud,
Dost thou blow thy
trumpet thus aloud?
Wherefore hast thou
such pride that thou art cool?
Sayeth
Balukesh, the Raja of Saran,
Hast not thou heard of
the virtues of my Love, my soul?
Then, why, O Cloud;
Dost thou blow thy
trumpet thus aloud?