bharathiyar on raja ravi varma

[padmanabha]

GOD MADE THE MOONLIGHT
AND THE CHATAKA BIRD TO DRINK IT
HE MADE AMBROSIA
AND GODS TO PARTKE OF IT
HE MADE THE WHITE PACHYDERM
WORTHY OF THE KING OF GODS

BEAUTY HE CREATED
IN THE FLOWER, THE AZURE SKY
AND IN THE WOMAN’S FACE
SO THAT THE FAR FAMED RAVI VARMA
CAN TAKE IT WITH GREAT VISION
HIS FANCIES AND HIS WISDOM

THE MASTER’S LIGHT
THE PEERLESS LIGHT
HAS LIT THE PALACES OF KINGS
AND THE HUTS OF THE POOR
IT BROUGHT DELIGHT
THE PAINTINGS

AND NOW TO EARTHLY GLORY
HE HAS BADE ADIEU
AND TO HEAVEN RISEN
O THOU, WHO HAST SO OFT PAINTED
THE CELESTIAL NYMPHS
RAMBHA URVASI AND ALL THE REST!

HAST THOU THE HEAVEN GONE
TO COMPARE THY HANDIWORK
DIRECT WITH THE ORIGINALS?
BUT ILL WILL THOSE DAMSELS
COMPARE WITH YOUR CREATIONS!

ALAS! IN THE GRAND MARCH OF TIME,
IF AUTHORS OF DEATHLESS WORKS
ARE TO DIE ONE DAY,
LIFE ON EARTH SHOULD THEN BE
AN ILLUSION FOR SURE,
PAST WORDS,
PAST DESCRIBING.

today is the death centenary of raja ravi varma