are a basin filled with blood
seeping into the corners of the house
we are the swollen eyelids
...
he is a sacrificial fire
in which the gods are constantly putting fuel
when darkness spreads its vast sheet
...
i have never heard an elephant cough
although as the zoologists say
he too posseses lungs
...
everything happens inside time
because
there is no outside of time
night is inside time
...
its been long
since i found anything
not even an ordinary coin
i used to find so many things
...
He is the copper-coloured god
one eye is the sun, the other moon
dark his tresses
how long, how dirty
...
i am the brilliance of summer
and like a seed
the hidden warmth of winter
i am the pleasent lonesomeness of spring
...
i am the indistinct whisper of sand
the honest voice of the bricks
i am the seed of the papaya
...
dont in panic
bang around like this sparrow
into the window pane, the mirror
you will break your beak, tear your claws
...
We Women
are a basin filled with blood
seeping into the corners of the house
we are the swollen eyelids
the desire to be loved
even while cutting vegetables
keeping an eye upon our children in the park like ghosts
we are the ears listening for the door
even in sleep
the humiliation that arises
on our opening the door
with dishevelled hair and faded faces
we are the deer of yearning
in the meadows of forbidden dreams
let us leap freely, you villains.
Translator: Ashok Pande