He came a-walking slowly down the road
A stick in hand - some broken leafless branch.
A shock of dirty curly hair, a load
Of whiskers covered half his face; my hunch:
A beggar, idle rover with no abode.
A dark and dirty skin, a blank his face,
Resigned to fate and wearing meagre clothes
He trod on skinny legs with aimless pace.
Then sudden turned his head, his eyes met mine:
A flicker smile - half seen half guessed - appeared
And vanished, giving just a moment's shine.
And he trudged on the lonely road as evening neared.
Then with fierce delight and searing joy the guile
Was bared - it none but Achyuta's smile!
Achyuta, meaning the Infallible Lord, is, in the tradition of Gauriya Vaishnavism, one of the 108 names of Lord Krishna. This sonnet is dedicated to him on the occasion of his birthday.
1 comment:
Reading the poem I recalled a description of Gokul Ashtami being celebrated in Mau in 'A Passage to India'. Let me quote from there: "Infinite Love took upon itself the form of SHRI KRISHNA, and saved the world. All sorrow was annihilated, not only for Indians, but for foreigners, birds, caves, railways, and the stars; all became joy, all laughter; there had never been disease nor doubt, misunderstanding, cruelty, fear." (Temple)
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