The mind lies there like a shadow of the dead

Who gave this thing we have the name "mind"?
And where did this mind come from anyway?
Does mind even have any meaning?
If it does, then is mind a mirror?
One that makes no distinction between old and new…
What was before, what is now, what lies ahead…
Does it show everything topsy-turvy?


Is "mind" some kind of lamp…that only spreads light, burns itself?
Is "mind" then a tunnel of sorts, a path that goes easily to all the doors of mind?
Does "mind" rule light and air…turning night into day, day into night?
Is "mind" then an ancient sentinel, grown so old…from the very beginning?


If that's not how it is, then why…
Why, instead of being anything else, has this mind alone become the sole culprit of all blame?
Why does this mind burn more than everything else?
Why is all loss sold and bought at the mind's expense?
Why, when pride and hurt come, is it the mind's will that matters?
Why is there such war when mind doesn't match mind?
Why do I see all paths to the mind's home blocked without reason?
Why is all accounting and reckoning created within the mind…what is this?
Why, when there's pain, do storm-rains fall in the mind?
Why, when something goes missing, is the mind's burden heaviest?
Why does mind become lame searching for mind, and nothing else?
Why, when mind burns, does its scent become sorrow itself?
Why does mind grow dim at the mind's own cost?
Why does the mind's sky seek skies of every color?
Why has only mind surrendered to mind?


Is this mind then some life-facing still picture?
If mind goes to mind's home, mind's room…is mind the sun there?
Why do you remain silent today?
Why are you passing life by in such quiet…in my case?
Am I not meant to know anything of yours?
You've kept me quite the fool indeed!
Well then, when the time comes, let's see how you manage!


The barbed wire's playful cruelty isn't joy—that was false delirium…I didn't understand before!
Resting in these arms, I've returned all the harsh arguments there were…mind to mind,
Pushing your love's raft into the cheaters' bath,
Smearing false attachment's blame, you've come…
Returned suddenly in the lament called death!
Do people grow old just like this…at a mirage's single gesture?
Such turbulent and frenzied breaking of these waters,
Why didn't you tell me before?
Such trembling in love's rush!
Did I understand then…that I'd scatter so much, sprinkle myself and remain so?
Did I know the owner of this mind was so petty?


Well sir, don't you ever tire?
Burning me like this daily, making me drunk…doesn't fatigue catch you?
Fine, you've made me submit…tell me, when do you rest?
Tell me now…do you rest at all?
Is that moon too obedient to you?
Do you rest only after hanging the moon silently in my sky?
That's why I say, why is the moon playing such hide-and-seek with me!
To guard me, you hang that moon in the middle of the sky!
Who am I anyway…why are you keeping such close watch on me?
Am I spring's cuckoo? Have you found autumn's golden sunshine on my body?


When your moon-constable sits in my room,
Then all my other summons, you ask only the moon later!
To the moon I've given everything that's mine, confessed all past sins.
Will you send a gentle kiss on the moon's breast?
Then I'll take moonlight by the handful, rub it on my body,
Smear your touch all over and touch myself!
What fault does the body have, tell me…it's all mind's play!
When your laughter spins and whirls through this brain,
What else would the body want except you?


Will you tell me, calling me again and again, why the boat in crowds?
And if you must take me, why let go of my hand again?
I tremble with irritation then!
Don't you know…I don't like all that commotion?
How much more time must pass before you understand me as I am?
When you do this, I think I'll post guards at your mind's door too!
Let's see how you escape so willfully with your mind whenever you please!
It's your own mind…must I ask permission for that too?
Where am I supposed to go now to stretch out my hands?
Is there anyone for stretching out these hands…don't you know?


Such boasting, you supposedly read people perfectly!
Tell me, have you ever read my heart? Could you do that?
If you can't, then what's the use of reading people so well?
You've kept your own heart in barbed wire like that!
Who will leap over those fences…who has such courage?
But I'm a simple person…I'll enter straight through the gate!
I have no desire to be so clever! Truly, listen,
These few drops of love aren't enough anymore!


Well, my mind's home…where has it fled?
Has it gone to your place?
I'm here…so why is my mind there? How?
At least scold it a little…I'm begging you, please send it away this time!
It doesn't bathe, doesn't eat…can it go on living in someone else's house like this?
This mind has become too willful…far too much!
It's left home, now it says…I want only you!
Does this happen?
Truly, such a day will come when I'll show exactly how love lives,
What it does when it loves, I'll show it all!
Even then if you obstruct love,
I'll chew you up raw and swallow you…however tough you are!