Nalan 1.06 Sickly Heart

Heart broken When Dhamayanthi told Her love in all words bold, To Nalan, on his face straight, She saw him backing out. Everything then, she suspected. With heavy sigh, she breathed. Her face began to sweat. Speechless, she fell down flat. Life withered Hit by Cupid’s arrow, Her heart felt sorrow O’er the turn of events, That led to her distress. Tears from her eyes Flowed like floods. Like tender leaves Baked in fire, she was. Her life withered And she was tired. She lost her shame Yet helpless she became. Desire never left Her speech was very sweet, Like Yazh’s musical notes. She could speak hardly But she whispered slowly, “Cupid arrows made holes, My life went thru these holes Yet, my desire never left Thru them, is it my fate? ” (Yazh = String Instrument) Time for Sunset The world lost one day. No more light in the sky. The stream had lost its birds. And salty backwater, its herds. Peacocks lost their pairs. Inviting the darkness, The sun set and hid Behind the mountain side. Darkness came On the sky, the hot Sun Drew the dark curtain In the stage, for all, to see, How darkness would be? At a distance, the sound Of Veda recital aloud Marked the sun set in Behind the tall mountain Slowly moved the evening Bees blew jasmine buds, Like conch did on all sides Cupid’s flower-bow Started its work by now. Jasmine flower garland, On shoulders, landed. Step by step, the evening Towards darkness, was moving. Evening did the trouble The above-said sunset Did create its ill effect On the minds of lovers, Who were not together. When two enemies fought Both sides were in fright, Likewise, separated lovers, Worried for each other. Cool Moon was hot Dhamayanthi, with her eyes, Spear-shaped-dark-lined ones, In the court yard, was resting Under the moon shining. The darkness disappeared When the moon appeared, That almost was drinking Her life that was sinking. Moon as fire The cool moon tore into pieces, And drove out the darkness, That was like the dark pastes, Applied to the maiden’s eyes. But the same cool moon, For her, became hot soon. She was lying down Facing this hot moon. Alive if I come? “Oh Swans, You’re gone. Also, the Sun is gone. The dark night is here That’ll leave never.” “Accompanied by lightning, The rain showers are falling. You can call my name, Alive, if I come? ” Boils in the cool sky “Oh my dear maidens, By the heat of the moon Boils are in the sky They’re stars, you say why? ” False story nailed “The forest, wide gardens Are the Cupid’s prisons. The sky is his chariot path. The sea is his fish-flag-cloth.” “The whole world is His working place, Where he dominates With his activities.” “If that be the real case, The Cupid’s story goes false, Into ashes, Shiva burnt him, Long ago, once upon a time.” The night’s evil heart “My life is looted and gone. The wild moon is like a thorn. The night has an evil heart.” Like this she cried out. Right thru the night Aloud she cried out. Her severe love-sickness Landed her in weakness. Why this burning night? “Why this dark night Burning my body right? Is it for the mere reason, It ate the heat of the sun? ” “Or is it due to the heat That arose from my breast? Am I baked in the heat The moon has spit out? ” Heat from the Moon Her body was burnt, With the moon’s heat. All these evil spirit, Formed one full night. “Why cock, the keeper of time, Didn’t sound its alarm? Like she was crying That was unending. Unbearable Sorrow The speckled bees flew, Near her eyes’ view. Her breast heaved high With a long deep sigh. When she was love-sick She became very weak. She could not even guess, How to overcome this? Cupid’s Flower Trap “Oh you Cool Moon, As Cupid fries everyone Did he send his flower To capture you forever? ” “Did he send the night To befriend you right? Have you any special reason To burn her in this moon? ” All her Sufferings Under the moon’s heat Her head became too hot, Besides the bees’ wings Flew around her like rings. Black her garland became, From her hot breath that came. The night stood as a witness To all her sufferings. She did penance Honey-like speech she had, But now tears only she shed, Her bangles loosened and fell It was like living in a hell. Cupid’s arrow burnt her The pain almost killed her. She did penance all the night, To reach her lover straight. Like a public woman’s heart. To pass that terrible night, It wasn’t so easy and light. The night was too adamant To care for any torch light. Like a public woman’s heart, For none cared, the dark night. So, heartless was the night Can it do anything right? Night sentries alerted Making their loud noise, Alerted the night sentries. Their hands held spears. And walked with no fears. They wore night dresses, And had long swords. Their colour was black Like the night that was dark. As the night-vigil-guards, They came on their rounds The night went on disregard Of these vigil guards. The World Slept In their own covered sheds Entered, all war-elephants. All the Yazhs did enter Into their own covers. Cupids arrow entered Its box well covered. Swarming bees slept well After the day’s toil. With the sea around, The whole world, With no obstacle, Had its sleep cycle. Ghost slept Night In its mouth, a ghost kept Its prey that slipped out, When, to sleep, it went Amidst tiresome night. Tears rolled One eye, peacock kept shut, While the other eye, open it kept To watch closely its mate, Even during every night. That also became false, In the mate’s absence, For which it cried out And in search, went out. She cried out, likewise, As from the sickly loneliness, She suffered in that night, And was in a pitiable plight. Am I a prey for the night? “Oh King, like mountain, Your shoulders remain, Why this darkness fry me Could you please tell me? ” “Am I a prey to the night, That eats me bit by bit? Like this she wept Thru out the night.” Can’t bear North Wind “Any sword or spear Dark night had no fear But there came north wind, For the night, it didn’t mind.” “Like a flower, with no honey, That was drunk by bees many, The evening ate the essence Of my life, and left nothing else.” “Even that North wind Has come with a mind To tease my soul And fry me well.” With shyness, heart broke Her love-sickness, like flame, Had caused a serious alarm. Suddenly she would stand. Then fall down in her bed. She held on to the pillar. Then sit down on the floor. Her heart sunk like this. She felt shy to express. Life of fire The darkness of the night Spread o’er the moon light. Holding her hair in her hand She lied flat in the bed. Her very life became fire. She breathed out fire. In bed, she got up and sat, Not being able to lie flat. Like this, she was restless, Spending a night sleepless. When she fell into sea of grief, No posture gave her any relief. Unmoving Night “The night has no power, Since its full power, O’er me, it showered, Leaving me withered.” “Or, the dark night loved, So deeply the devil Cupid, That it has no mind to go. Perhaps, it may be, is it so? ” Got up and swooned Sometime she swooned. After that she regained. Rapidly her heart bet. She fell down in heat. Aimlessly, she walked. Within herself, she talked. Her ornaments slipped. With no sleep, she was tired. Is there safety to life? The stubborn dark night Had its deep root. Even the evil ghost Couldn’t pass thru it. In such a horrible night How a life had felt With no proper safety But allowed only to cry?