07 (Sakuntala) Return To The Base Camp

The King’s close friend, The court jester found Himself badly stuck up In the forest base camp. Talking to himself, he said, “My fate has now played, To keep me in distress, In this forest for days.” “The King is mad after Hunting wild pigs, deer, Roaming here and there, Even in this hot weather.” “The dirty water from The mountain stream We’ve to drink sometime And eat food not in time.” “Most of the time we eat The same burnt raw meat, Undergoing ordeals many, Sometime in a way funny.” “All my bone joints Have become loose After riding on horse In rough roads for days.” “In this kind of hell Can a man sleep well? The hunters’ noise, above all, Adds more to this hell.” “The drum beat sounds, Barking of the hounds, Pierce my eardrums Right from early hours.” “Our adventurous King, Was keen on chasing, A deer in his hunt, And somewhere went.” “It seems, he saw a girl, And lost his sweet will Out of mad love for her Once he saw her” “Perhaps he’ll return never, And will prefer to stay there, To spend his time with her, Forgetting his duties here.” Like this, he was murmuring, And saw the king coming Back To the base camp With no show or pomp. Dushyanta heaved a sigh In his spirit, not so high, Having left his dream girl, Who had robbed his soul. “It’s not so easy to earn The love of a dear one, Yet, her gestures give The comforts I deserve.” “O’er an incomplete love, To get it, one thinks how, Another craves for it, With pleasure still in it.” “The load on her waist, The work with no rest, Perhaps kept her tired, So, no attention she paid.” “Her indirect eye sight Her replies so indifferent, Perhaps, all meant for me, Had Cupid pitied me.”