2017-05-27

Tá ina Lá

Tá sé cheana ina lá!
Tá rud éigin nua im’ chroíse,
       Muvva Gopala.

Ar labhramar fiú ar feadh píosa
chun pian ár scarúna go dtí anois a mhaolú?
Glaonnn tú orm is tú lán de dhúil, ‘A bhean, tar chugam,’
agus le linn do bhéal a bheith ar mo bhéalsa,

              tá sé cheana ina lá!

Gafa i ngreim Dhia an Ghrá,
i bhfeirg leis, faighimid faoiseamh ag ól
béal le béal.

Deir tú, ‘A chailín, tá do cholainn chomh tláith le duilleog,’
agus sula n-éalaím ód’ bharróg dhocht

              tá sé cheana ina lá!

Ag éisteacht le gach cnead uaim is do mhéara orm thall is abhus
déanann an peata pearóide aithris orm, agus Ó an gáire a dheinimid sa leaba!

Deir tú, ‘Chugam aniar thú, a chailín,’
Agus tú ag suirí liom mar neach fiáin, Muvva Gopala,
Agus mé ar tí dul in airde ort,

              tá sé cheana ina lá!

 Ksetrayya


Morning Already

How soon it’s morning already!
There’s something new in my heart
       Muvva Gopala.

Have we talked a little while
to undo the pain of our separation till now?
You call me in your passion, ‘Woman, come to me,’
and while your mouth is still on mine,

              it’s morning already!

Caught in the grip of the Love God,
angry with him, we find release drinking
at each other’s lips.

You say, ‘My girl, your body is tender as a leaf,’
and before you can loosen your tight embrace,

              it’s morning already!

Listening to my moans as you touch certain spots,
the pet parrot mimics me, and O how we laugh in bed!

You say, ‘Come close, my girl,’
and make love to me like a wild man, Muvva Gopala,
and as I get ready to move on top,

              it’s morning already
             

Ksetrayya (17th.century)     


(When God is a Customer: Telugu Courtesan Songs by Ksetrayya and Others, Trans. A.K. Ramanujan, V. Narayana Rao & David Shulman, Univ. of California Press, Berkeley, 1994)