The Maggots (from The Descendants) - Kamala Das

[aimlesswanderer.livejournal.com]

At sunset, on the river ban, Krishna
Loved her for the last time and left...

That night in her husband's arms, Radha felt
So dead that he asked, What is wrong,
Do you mind my kisses, love? And she said,
No, not at all, but thought, What is
It to the corpse if the maggots nip?


-- Kamala Das

Comments

[mehinda.livejournal.com]

Thank you for being understanding about my request!

This is excellent!

[aimlesswanderer.livejournal.com]

I greatly admire the work you do out here.

Btw, Lord Krishna is a human reincarnation of Lord Vishnu (One of the three supreme Gods in Hindu Mythology). Radha was supposed to be Lord Krishna's human love interest (He had a wife later on, Rukmini but Radha's love has always been more of a devotional sort and is also more well known and more widely written about. Rukmini was supposed to be the human reincarnation of Goddess Laxmi, the astral wife of Lord Vishnu).

./w

[papple.livejournal.com]

very moving piece. Thanks

[aimlesswanderer.livejournal.com]

I am glad you were touched by this. I have loved (and returned to) this piece for almost a decade now.

./w

[wondrousbeauty.livejournal.com]

Is that supposed to be river bank (rather than "ban")? :)

[aimlesswanderer.livejournal.com]

River Ban is a mythical river in old Mathura I guess.

./w

[aimlesswanderer.livejournal.com]

I did some research. River Ban is another (perhaps ancient) name for River Yamuna (also known as Ban Ganga). Yamuna flows through the City of Mathura.

./w

[ragingimpotence.livejournal.com]

do you know of Kamala Markandaya?

[aimlesswanderer.livejournal.com]

I have heard "of" her; but I did not know she was into poetry as well. Do you have any work by her that you could share?

./w

[ashcanprobably.livejournal.com]

She should have said it.

[aimlesswanderer.livejournal.com]

Why do you think so?

./w

[keonaa.livejournal.com]

I deeply admire Kamala Das and her work. Defying every realm of the patriarchal structure, she has made her own niche.
Heartfelt thank you for posting such a moving piece.

[aimlesswanderer.livejournal.com]

Oh you are very very welcome.

./w