Bonsai of Thoughts (Translated)

Musings in Miniature: One Hundred Seventy-Eight

1. Endure, O life,
for it too must endure you!

2. What does day gain
by calling night back?

3. Who answers whose call!
Who raids whose home!

4. Lean on duty,
grow great in desire.

5. The rich man's moral failings
are the poor man's consolation.

6. The flute that calls
and Radha answers—
that same flute calls
to many other Radhas too.

7. Become dog-loyal
and you'll receive
the treatment
dogs receive.

8. What comes of clutching
broken mirror shards to your chest?
When the fair ends, the Ferris wheel
leaves only memory behind!

9. When someone doesn't wish to be selfless about something,
forcing them to be selfless about it—
that itself is selfishness.
10. When evening comes,
who keeps you company
but your own shadow?

11. Love that begins at sunset—
its curtain falls at sunrise!

12. The lamp that weathered
the whole night's storm—
what does its light
matter to the lover now?

13. In the flower's lap
rain makes its home.

14. On the temple's ancient walls too—
wild flowers' rainbow.

15. The wind's blows, blow after blow—
leaves scattered in distress.

16. In the waterfall's rush—
a failed lover's endless stream of tears.

17. That tiresome man's
snoring
breaks even the birds' sleep.

18. The street boy
fills an empty Coke bottle
with spring water
and tastes the joy of soft drinks.

19. Even on grass
trampled underfoot,
flowers bloom.

20. The girl
in bitter cold
wets her waist with icy water
to chase away the heat.
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