Travails of an Uncertain Scholar

1 I carried my curds to the Mathura fair… 2 How softly the heifers were lowing… 3 I wanted to cry, “Who will buy 4 The curds that is white as the clouds in the sky 5 When the breezes of Shravan are blowing?” 6 But my heart was so full of your beauty, Beloved, 7 They laughed as I cried without knowing: 8 Govinda! Govinda! 9 Govinda! Govinda! 10 How softly the river was flowing! 11 I carried the pots to the Mathura tide… 12 How gaily the rowers were rowing! 13 My comrades called, “Ho! Let us dance, let us sing 14 And wear saffron garments to welcome the spring. 15 And pluck the new buds that are blowing.” 16 But my heart was so full of your music, Beloved, 17 They mocked when I cried without knowing: 18 Govinda! Govinda! 19 Govinda! Govinda! 20 How gaily the river was flowing! 21 I carried my gifts to the Mathura shrine… 22 How brightly the torches were glowing! 23 I folded my hands at the altars to pray 24 “O shining ones guard us by night and by day”- 25 And loudly the conch s

Night Of The Scorpion 1 I remember the night my mother 2 was stung by a scorpion. Ten hours 3 of steady rain had driven him 4 to crawl beneath a sack of rice. 5 Parting with his poison - flash 6 of diabolic tail in the dark room - 7 he risked the rain again. 8 The peasants came like swarms of flies 9 and buzzed the name of God a hundred times 10 to paralyse the Evil One. 11 With candles and with lanterns 12 throwing giant scorpion shadows 13 on the mud-baked walls 14 they searched for him: he was not found. 15 They clicked their tongues. 16 With every movement that the scorpion made 17 his poison moved in Mother's blood, they said. 18 May he sit still, they said. 19 May the sins of your previous birth 20 be burned away tonight, they said. 21 May your suffering decrease 22 the misfortunes of your next birth, they said. 23 May the sum of all evil 24 balanced in this unreal world 25 against the sum of good 26 become diminished by your pain. 27 May the poison purify your flesh