Oh Ganga! river so revered
your holiness purifies deep
if thy essence we let in seep.
From lord Shiva's hair you appeared
down the mighty Himalayas
quenching the thirsty souls pious.
Yamuna, Saraswati neared
to merge with you at Triveni
Sangam of pilgrimage many.
Together all joyously cheered
by peasants and boatmen alike
before in sea you slowly dyke.
Your ambrosial waters so cleared
granting boon to even sinners
writing history of winners
Oh Ganga! river so revered
From lord Shiva's hair you appeared
Yamuna, Saraswati neared
Together all joyously cheered
Your ambrosial waters so cleared.
Note:
Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati rivers' confluence takes place at Triveni near Allahabad. This confluence is also called Sangam in Hindi.
25.7.2020
Villanelle Do Evil People know why they're so
" Evil people resemble the Gods in that
They too may do as they please. "
From the Thirukural*
(Cf. T. Wignesan. The Thiruk-Kural of Thiru-Valluvar. The Secular Yogi in the Temple. Allahabad : Cyberwit.net, 2018, p. 75.)
Do Evil People know why they're so
For if it weren't for them will Life not end
Who puts to test the Good must Evil sow
If all the World were Yang will any know
The purpose of our existence sans end
Do Evil People know why they're so
Must not Evil People pay the price and go
To another world earned karma to spend
Who puts to test the Good must Evil sow
See you not why the Yin multiply more
The Yang isolated stand yet defend
Do Evil People know why they're so
They prance they dance they lord it and richer grow
In their heart of hearts not by courage mend
Who puts to test the Good must Evil sow
Ask not why we must thus by Fate endure
Either this or with endless boredom contend
Do Evil People know why they're so
Who puts to test the Good must Evil sow.
© T. Wignesan - Paris, 2018
La capinera's wintering pieces of tropic tunes
The garden warbler's echoes of dark melodies
Post-colonial poets return by summering fortunes
Learnt by rote as sacred Oxbridge duties
Note
The French "pantoum" may be modeled on the Malay pantun,
or at least it may aspire to, but it does not adhere to its
fundamental compositional criteria. For the original prototype,
cf. T. Wignesan, "The Poietics of the Pantun" in Journal of the
Institute of Asian studies, Vol. XII, n° 2 (Chennai), March 1995,
pp. 1-15; reproduced with corrections in T. Wignesan. Sporadic
Striving amid Echoed Voices, Mirrored Images and Stereotypic
Posturing in Malaysian-Singaporean Literatures. Allahabad:
Cyberwit.net, 2008, pp. 49-67.
(c) T. Wignesan - Paris, 2012
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