Mirabai

He had no words

for me. Why can't

my body release me, release me?

He did not

lift my veil nor move his lips

and as I looked for sound

I saw the dawn.

It's spring, they say he'll come.

The night is fearsome, lightning shows.

On fingers seared with use, I count each instant as it

slow-breathing

goes,

then that too

is closed.

(From In the Dark of the Heart: Songs of Meera, translated by Shama Futehally)

My friend,

I'm head over heels.

His form,

his lotus eyes his glance which isn't all that straight

have carved themselves upon my sight.

On the banks of the Jumna

he grazed

his cows and played

low notes, and I dropped the veils of thought

and ran

and fled

and took shelter at His feet.

(From In the Dark of the Heart: Songs of Meera, translated by Shama Futehally)

How gather

together

entire

a letter?

My pen only

trembles,

eyes, they just

stream

words hide

when I call them

to me

Passer-by, please would you

only

speak?

(From In the Dark of the Heart: Songs of Meera, translated by Shama Futehally)