Naked Mind: J.V.Pawar

J.V.Pawar  

                         

Naked Mind

Agreed, I don’t have the kind of naked mind you do.

Mine never could dare to pour oil over a burning hut.

I too, had lit a stove,here,in this very hut

To straighten out those bent hut-like.

These huts burn daily,chewing a morsel or two,

Poised,as it were, to spit at the sun.

Cultured ladies walking lightly- you’ll meet them everywhere,

Dainty, offering themselves,

But mothers and sisters in huts

Will pawn their managalsutras carelessly.

Go ahead,.Beat the drums of chastity

Of the shameless condemnation;

I feel nothing about it..

I don’t have the kind of naked mind you do;

I really don’t.

Translated by P.S.Nerurkar

Editor’s note:

The mangallsutras is the wedding necklaces of Maharastrian women.Nerurkar’s translation has been changed slightly,