Love

Epigram XI

by Bhartrihari traditionally 5th–7th century AD

Translated by Paul Elmer More (1898) · From A Century of Indian Epigrams (1898)

Love

O fair Acoka-tree, with love's own red
Thy boughs are all aflame;
Whither, I pray thee, hath my wanton fled?
This way I know she came.

In vain thy nodding in the wind, thy sigh
Of ignorance assumed;
I know because my flower-love wandered by
For joy thy branches bloomed.

I know thee: ever with thy buds unblown,
Till touched by maiden's foot;
And thou so fair — one fairest maid alone
Hath trod upon thy root.

MLA

Bhartrihari. “Epigram XI.” Translated by Paul Elmer More. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/bhartrihari/10/.

Chicago

Bhartrihari. “Epigram XI.” Translated by Paul Elmer More. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/bhartrihari/10/.

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