English

Akananuru 332

The colors on the elephant's body
shine, as he grazes
with his herd
on bamboo shoots,
breaking down branches;
then, in thirst,
he goes to a watering place,
kills a crouching tiger
poised for attack.
Pouring rains
clean the tusks, wash down the blood on their tips,
as he walks slowly along slopes
of jagged rock.
He's arrogant
after finishing off a vicious enemy,
and with six-legged bees making lute-music
over the juices of his lust

Kuruntokai 393

So few, really
were the days
your lover crushed your garland
of mixed flowers
in his clasp.

But O the scandal!

It was the far louder
than the clamor
of the Konkars flashing their blades

when Atikan,
commander of the Pantiya,
that king of the golden armor,
fell
with his elephant
in the wide field of Vakai

Kuruntokai 38

He is from those mountains

where the little black-faced monkey,
playing in the sun,
rolls the wild peacock's eggs
on the rocks.

Yes, his love is always good
as you say, my friend,

but only for those strong enough
to bear it,

who will not cry their eyes out
or think anything of it

when he leaves.

Kuruntokai 204

Love, love,
they say.
Love
is no disease,
no evil goddess.

Come to think of it,
dear man
with those great shoulders,
love is very much like an old bull,

enjoys a good lick
of the young grass
on the slope
of an old backyard:

a fantasy feast,
that's what love is.

Akananuru 358

Their throats glittering like blue sapphire,
tail feathers splendid,
the peacocks gather
with sweet calls,
dancers
skilled in slow-beat rhythms.

But you don't play anymore
like those peacocks
with your girl friends
in the long deep streams,
wearing wreaths of blue lily
with petals like eyes,
tresses flaring
as they dance.

Your heart is anxious,
you're lonely, stricken
with pallor.
Now, what shall I say to Mother

Kuruntokai 68

The bare root of the bean is pink
like the leg of a jungle hen,
and herds of deer attack its overripe pods.'
For the harshness
of this season of morning dew
there is no cure

but the breast of my man.

Akananuru 348

What will happen now?

The ripe, sweet, aromatic mangoes of summer
from the stout trees
in the yards
and the glowing inner segments
of green-skinned jackfruit,
mixed with honey,

age in long bottles,
sections of the swaying bamboo,
and brew into a liquor
as powerful, as quick
as a viper.

The hillsmen
offer it first to the mountain,
sky peak and living god;
soon get drunk on it,

Kuruntokai 394

The drum-footed black elephant's calf,

its crown still soft,
runs and plays
with the gypsy woman's boys,
their bodies all tiny joints,
boys from the seaside
where liquor is plentiful;

is sweet one day
but devours their millet the next:

so too, his games and laughter
turn to hate.

Kuruntokai 25

Only the thief was there, no one else.
And if he should lie, what can I do?

There was only
a thin-legged heron standing
on legs yellow as millet stems
and looking
for lampreys
in the running water

when he took me.

Kuruntokai 119

As a little white snake
with lovely stripes on its young body
troubles the jungle elephant

this slip of a girl
her teeth like sprouts of new rice
her wrists stacked with bangles

troubles me.