Tell me Mother what shall I see now?

MAHADEVI VARMA
Translated from Hindi by P. ADESWARA RAO

Tell me mother! what shall I see now
Shall I see the blossoming buds
Or the thirsty dried lips,
Shall I see your youthful beauty eternal
Or the tortured life’s agony?

Shall I see the merry dew-diamonds
On the tossing blue lotuses,
Or the piteous tears that run
From the faded eyelids?

Shall I see the flowing breeze
That drank fragrance to the brim,
Or them that drink draughts of sorrow
And them that breathe cold despair?

Shall I play beneath your spring’s shade
With sweet fragrance be scattered round,
Or shall see the decay of life
Enhanced by wrinkles of sorrow?

Shall I search for the bee-fairies
That dance on petals by honey bedewed,
Or shall see the life’s parrot in heart’s cage
Yearning for a handful of grains?

Shall I see the creepers
Hidden in the cluster of buds,
Or shall see piteous modesty
In the outrageous hands of evil days?

Shall I lull your bee-babes
In the cradles of new-born leaves,
Or shall see the delicate child
Struggling for life amidst the stones?

Shall I see the twinkling row of lights
Of your far-stretched portico,
Or shall see the fading lamp
In this lonely dark corner?

Shall I hear the sweet notes of birds
Diffused in the music of stream-waters,
Or shall see the scattered minds
Like strings of a broken lyre?

Shall I see the tender silver beams
Tangled in the drowsy wings of sleep,
Or shall see the dance of gloom
In the ever-open eyelids?

There is pious laughter on your lips
And ever-flowing tears are here,
Shall I see your pomp and splendour
Or the cries and moans of life?
21st December, 1973