~~
a young couple roams these woods
wounded by Kama’s arrows
in each other’s eyes they find solace
the rest of the world does not exist
a heavenly lass Pramadwara is a handsome young sage is Ruru
beautiful eyes, luscious lips strong and virile, though not a prince
slender waist, wide hips face bathed in benign light
every inch an apsara’s offspring the result of his spiritual penance
Ruru’s heart is in her possession Pramadwara, that divine beauty is his
lost in each other
they roam these woody lanes
unaware, uncaring of anything else
of love’s sweet wine they drink deep
the more they drink, the more unsatiated
and then fate rolls its dice
tragedy strikes!
Pramadwara’s unseeing eyes
find a serpent underfoot-it bites!
throes of passion turn into throes of death
in her lover’s arms she slowly dies
broken-hearted, wounded of spirit
anger seething within, Ruru mourns
“my love’s sweet journey is not finished
too young, too beautiful, too full of life to die
my Pramadwara must live!
and if she can’t, then I shall follow
this world is nothing without her
it is uninspiring and bitter”
saying so he prepares to die
till a voice from heaven arrests him
“Ruru do not mourn your lover
her time had come, you are no mere mortal
a sage you are, with spiritual knowledge
you need not be taught, what is written is written
time cannot be turned back, so leave this foolish path
accept that she is gone, turn back!”
“what do you celestials know of love and hurt
you who neither live, nor love or die
you exist unaware of love’s magnificent spell
its pleasant charms and beautiful bylanes
and certainly you knew not my darling
or of our love, so pure, so full of longing
that now remains unfulfilled, like a cruel broken promise
without each other I cannot live, nor can she truly die
her soul shall never find peace until I join her or otherwise
she returns alive”
back and forth they argue
each one unyielding and stubborn
but in the war between love and logic
love is triumphant here
a deal is struck, destiny is forced to yield
under love’s incredible power
“Ruru you are adamant, you refuse to compromise
so you shall have your lover’s life
in exchange for a sacrifice
half your destined lifetime you shall give her
so neither of you shall live long
but while you live you shall be together
if this is acceptable, use your spiritual power
to make the exchange, but remember
your life will be that much shorter”
but what is eternal life without love
so in a trice the exchange is made
from her deathly slumber Pramadwara awakes
to Ruru’s eager, enthusiastic embrace
tears of reunion mingled with pleasure
eyes looking forward to
a life and a death-eternally together
a young couple roams these woods
wounded by Kama’s arrows
in each other’s eyes they find solace
the rest of the world does not exist
-Vijayalakshmi Harish
02.10.2012
Copyright © Vijayalakshmi Harish
Kama : The God of Love
Apsara : Celestial Dancers
