Love
I could not see her clearly
Translated by Ananda Coomaraswamy and Arun Sen (1915) · From Bangiya Padabali (trans. 1915)
Krishna:
I could not see her clearly:
Like a vine of lightning flashing from a wreath
of cloud,
She plunged an arrow in my heart.
Half the wimple had slipped, half was her face in smiles.
Half a wave in her eyes:
Half of her bosom I saw, half of the wimple filling,--
Love consumes me ever since.
Bright was her body withal, and golden cups her breasts.
Her bodice, Love transformed:
My wits were routed,-- meseems this snare
Was set by Kāmadev.
Pearl-teeth arow her lips did meet.
That murmured gentle words.
Vidyāpati says: Grief haunts my heart:
I saw her indeed, but hope was not sated.
Codex Note
The First Passion of Krishna, VIII
Cite this poem
MLA
Vidyapati. “I could not see her clearly.” Translated by Ananda Coomaraswamy and Arun Sen. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/vidyapati/7/.
Chicago
Vidyapati. “I could not see her clearly.” Translated by Ananda Coomaraswamy and Arun Sen. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/vidyapati/7/.
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