Vasavdatta

https://youtu.be/STUEqpChlYQ

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In the dark night

The storm was raging ;

And so did one

In the depths of Vasavdatta’s

heart .

For , at the yonder end of

The bridge ,

-     Which like her heaving

Bosom,

Swayed over Sipra’s

Turbulent waters ;

Her lover stood in wait ,

Singing a tune

On his melodious flute ,

That made the restless night

Still more .

Hasten Vasavdatta ,

The time was running short ;

And with gentle steps

Thru the courtyard

And the guard less gates

She made her way –

Though her hair hung loose

And the cheeks were smeared

With kajal .

Oh , such a terrible night !

She shivered in the

Clatter of rain –

Plodding her way

Through the flooded streets ,

She came to the outskirt

Of town ;

“ I am coming to thee ,

My love “ , cried she ,

“ Play no more the tune

That drives me wild “ .

But lo ! what strikes her feet ?

Holding her breath ,

In lightning’s wake,

Saw Vasavdatta ,

A smiling face !

“ Who you ? “, spoke she ,

“ In this dreadful night

And with what delight ,

Are lying on the ground ? “

Slipped words

From the stranger’s tongue ,

“ I am Upagupta

The Sadhu ,

Who has made a shelter ,

Of star-studded sky ,

And usually finds

A bed of grass

To rest a dreamless night “ .

“ Forgive me , O Sadhu ,

For touching thee with

My feet “ ,

Begged she ,

“ And for the night ,

You my guest be “ .

“ Not tonight

Vasavdatta .

He who waits for you ,

Shall have his time ,

But I promise you

To come sometime ,

Farewell till then “ .

And the time fled swift ;

For one full moon night ,

As a gentle breeze blew

On Sipra’s waters ,

Walked Upagupta

Across the bridge .

And on the same spot ,

Where they first met ,

Found he Vasavdatta ,

Ailing to death .

Whispered he to her ,

“ Look Vasavdatta ,

I have kept my promise “ .

“ Touch me not

My Lord ,

Touch not this leper ;

My sins must take their toll ,

The disease is deadly

And my hour is come “ .

“ And so has mine “ ,

The Sadhu spoke ,

“ I have promised you

Vasavdatta ,

And so shall this be

Our night  “ .

“ The stars are twinkling

The bells are ringing

The fragrance floats

On the westerly wind.

The heaven is whispering

To the earth below ,

 As I play the flute

You join me with the song ,

This is our night.

Our last night “ .

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10  Aug  1970

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Hindi Transliteration ( dt 23  July  2019 ) at :

https://poemshn.blogspot.com/2019/07/vasavdatta.html




Gujarati ( dt 24  Sept  2019 ) at :

https://hcpspoems.blogspot.com/2019/09/blog-post.html

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