Poem: So I say: Mind, don't you sleep by Ramprasad

[dragonyphoenix]

I usually don't like these mystical poems where the poet refers to him/herself by name, but this one I did enjoy.

So I say: Mind, don't you sleep by Ramprasad (Ramprasad Sen)
English version by Leonard Nathan and Clinton Seely



So I say: Mind, don't you sleep
Or Time is going to get in and steal from you.

You hold on to the sword of Kali's name.
The shield of Tara's name.

Can Death overwhelm you?
Sound Kali's name on a horn and sound it loud.

Chant "Durga, Durga,"
Until you bring the dawn around.

If She won't save you in this Dark Age --.
But how many great sinners have been saved!

Is Ramprasad then
So unsalvageable a rogue?

Comments

[lemorttoussaint.livejournal.com]

I've only encountered one poet who does the self-reference thing regularly that I enjoy pretty consistently--Ghalib. There are some awesome translations of his work done by Adrienne Rich, WS Merwin, William Hunt, and others.

I quite like this poem too, but I'm a sucker for references to pretty much any religion.

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

It's rare for me to like religious poems. There's one I memorized (and forgot again) called Satori Poem; if I find that I'll post it.