Wednesday, January 20, 2010

More metaphors of light

Looking for your light,
I went out:

it was like the sudden dawn 
of a million million suns,

a ganglion of lightnings
for my wonder.

O Lord of Caves,
if you are light,
there can be no metaphor.

[Virasaiva saint Allama Prabhu, translated by A.K. Ramanujan]

Tejaswini Niranjana's political critique apart, this is a striking translation that captures the sheer spirit of an inspired moment.


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