By
S. K. DAS
(Translated
by L. N. Sahu from the original in Oriya)
[Champu–a
harmonious blend of poetry and music–constitutes a distinctive form in Oriya
literature and was introduced by Kavisurya, a poet born in 1789 A. D. The
following is a free rendering into English of a Champu picked up from the
poet’s Sangit Kalpalata.]
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 anyone on earth, or in the world below
or
in heaven above
Can
match the moments 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 thy heavy hails?
But
that also fails.
Sees’t
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
art thou so proud 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?