PLAY

 

PROF. D. R. BENDRE

 

Food came threatening to eat me.

But, it was I who ate. ‘O I’m killed!’ cried life aloud

But itself did recreate.

 

Awareness unawares became

You and I and he

Knowledge unknowingly played

Hiding you with me.

 

Did that make Itself all

Or with Itself each imbue?

Or chords in a single symphony

Are he and I and you?

 

In playthings life has made

The little prince playing lies

That through beauty into love

Himself may personalise.

–Translated from the Kannada original

by SHANKAR MOKASHI-PUNEKAR

 

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