Mira’s Colors
By Mirabai
Translated By Chloe Martinez
I’m dyed dark with him.
I dressed up / put on ankle-bells / gave up on shame / danced
I’ve taken on his deep hue.
I took up with mystics / got called perverse / was faithful, true, in my body
I’m colored with his colors.
I sang night and day / described his qualities / escaped time, death, snakes
His colors seep through me.
The whole world would taste bitter / without him / it would all be useless
I’m blue like my beloved.
Mira says, O Mountain-lifter, listen / I’m drenched in your sweetness
Translated from the Braj-Bhasha, below
____
मैं तो सांवरे के रंग राची॥
साजि सिंगार बांधि पग घुंघरू, लोक लाज तजि नाची।
गई कुमति लई साधु की संगति, भगत रूप भै सांची।
गाय गाय हरि के गुण निसदिन, काल ब्याल सूँ बांची।
उण बिन सब जग खारो लागत, और बात सब कांची।
मीरा श्री गिरधरनलाल सूँ, भगति रसीली जांची॥
Notes:
Read the note on this poem by Chloe Martinez.
Source: Poetry (May 2022)