Today's Beautiful Gem: `They Are One Another' by Vidyapati,
translated by Edward Dimock and Denise Levertov.

"As the mirror to my hand, the flowers to my hair,
kohl to my eyes, taambul to my mouth,
musk to my breast, necklace to my throat,
ecstacy to my flesh, heart to my home--

"As wing to bird, water to fish,
life to the living, so you to me.
But tell me, Maadhava, beloved,
who are you? Who are you really?

"Vidyaapati says, they are one another."

Note: Vidyapati was a medieval poet well versed in Sanskrit and
lived in the Mithila area. Even though he was extremely skilled
in Sanskrit poetics and wrote books in that language, he is more
well-known for his collection of songs in Maithili. In a way, he
introduced the pattern of Sanskrit poetry in the local languages.
My dear Bengali and Hindi friends, why don't some of you supply
some originals with translations?

Om s'aantih: Peace! - J. K. Mohana Rao

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