Venice masks

Wednesday, 14 January 2026

While unperishing love melted my bones - Manikkavacakar

While unperishing love melted my bones,
     I cried
I shouted again and again,
     louder than the waves of the
     billowing sea,
I became confused,
     I fell,
     I rolled,
     I wailed,
Bewildered like a madman,
Intoxicated like a crazy drunk,
     so that people were puzzled
     and those who heard wondered.
Wild as a rutting elephant which cannot
     be mounted,
     I could not contain myself.

Manikkavachakar (9th century) India
Translated by G. E. Yocum
Source: Poetry Chaikhana

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