There was an old bugger called God,
who got a young virgin in pod.
This disgraceful behaviour
begot Christ our Saviour,
who was nailed to a cross, poor old sod.

stamens quiver
saffron lily pollen stains
indelibly

Like the sweet apple that reddens
At end of the bough--
Far end of the bough--
Left by the gatherer's swaying,
Forgotten, so thou.
Nay, not forgotten, ungotten,
Ungathered (till now).

Like an Ivy caught in violets,
a full moon trapped by pythons two;
or a beauty of China
wearing the sacred thread

Like a tulip, my robe I'll rent,
and come forth;
O Padmani, I'm thy loved,
infamed by my love

Sending
In delinquency
To disappoint
The amber of water
At a high soul

lightning -
chinks in cloud's armour
are revealed
...

Lighting one candle
with another candle--
spring evening.


Translated by Robert Hass

light of the moon
moves west - flowers' shadows
creep eastward

“Our loss was light,” the paper said,
“Compared with damage to the Hun”:
She was a widow, and she read
One name upon the list of dead
Her son, her only son.