Sunday, October 22, 2023

"Ankle Bells," attributed to Mirabai

Ankle Bells


Mira dances, how can her ankle bells not dance?
"Mira is insane," strangers say that.  "The family's
      ruined."
Poison came to the door one day; she drank it and
      laughed.
I am at Hari's feet; I give him body and soul.
A glimpse of him is water: How thirsty I am for that!
Mira's Lord is the one who lifts mountains, he
      removes evil from human life.
Mira's Lord attacks the beings of greed; for safety I
      go to him.


Source of the text - Mirabai: Ecstatic Poems.  Versions by Robert Bly and Jane Hirshfield.  Boston: Beacon Press, 2004, p. 12.  This poem was translated by Robert Bly.

TJB: Happy feet. With dancing, dialogue, & prayer, the poem changes from third to first person after poison is ingested; then becomes straight psalmlike.
  
  
  

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