Love
What can I say, my sakhī? It is shame to tell
Translated by Ananda Coomaraswamy and Arun Sen (1915) · From Bangiya Padabali (trans. 1915)
Rādhā:
What can I say, my sakhī? It is shame to tell
All that my Lover did imperiously;
A young thing I, unlearned in lore of love,--
It was the messenger that led me to his side.
My body shivered at the sight of him,
So fierce he was to fall on me,
I lost my wits in his embrace:
How can I tell what amorous play he played?
In everything my Lord behaved ungently,
How can I speak of it amongst my friends?
Why ask of it, who know it all too well?
Happy is she whom he may not distress!
Fear not, says Vidyāpati:
Such is the fashion of first dalliance.
Codex Note
First Meetings, XXXVIII
Cite this poem
MLA
Vidyapati. “What can I say, my sakhī? It is shame to tell.” Translated by Ananda Coomaraswamy and Arun Sen. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/vidyapati/37/.
Chicago
Vidyapati. “What can I say, my sakhī? It is shame to tell.” Translated by Ananda Coomaraswamy and Arun Sen. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/vidyapati/37/.
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