Hungry Stones - 12

(A poetic translation of a story by Rabindranath Tagore, kśhdhārto pāśhāņa, Hungry Stones, for convenience split in 13 parts) . It is set in blank verse with stanzas that rhymed in between. XII To office when I rushed to ask old Khan, ‘Tell me pray tell the meaning of it all', And what I learnt from the old man was this: A story of countless unrequited, Unfulfilled longings, lurid flames of red, Wild carnal pleasures raging within walls Of the palace of ill repute, the curse Of collective heart-aches of teenage dolls, Of blasted hopes that made every stone nurse A red grudge against evil perpetrators, The thirst of hungry stones growing to gall, O turning to core into prime haters, Eager to swallow any living soul Like a famished ogre on eating spree, Not one that lived there three nights for a cause, Could have escaped safe from the cruel jaws, Maher Ali could— running from his reason free. ‘Is there any a way for my release? ' I asked, ‘of course there's to a man of means, ‘But far beyond tall hills, if you so please, ‘And yet, you well know how it all begins, Tale of an un-blossomed bud at mid sea, O fated to live at that haunted shore, There scarce could a more pathetic tale be, More heart-rending tragedy to the core'! _____________________________________________ Translations | 12.03.13 |