Silence is Loud

If you have nothing good to say, don’s say anything.

 King Sri Dharmaraja II of Cambodia (1628-1630)

His Unseen Bride

Our yaksha is withering away on Rama’s Hill. He misses his young bride. He sees her everywhere:

In the syama-vine I see your slender limbs;

Your glance in the gazelle’s startled eye;

The cool radiance of the moon in your face,

Your tresses in the peacock’s luxuriant train:

Your eyebrows’ graceful curve in the stream’s small waves:

But alas! O cruel one, I see not  

Your whole likeness anywhere in anyone thing.

Meghadūta or the Cloud Messenger by Kālidāsa (5th Century CE)

Riddle Friday

It has a bottom and it has legs, it also has a waist, unfortunately, it has neither

body nor head. Its counterpart, on the other hand, has arms which are

connected to a body that goes all the way up to its neck, but sadly, it’s missing

a head and legs.

Mademoiselle Proem Is Singing

Little, little, little gecko,

Why do you hold your head like that?

What are you looking, looking at?

Could it be my bowl of angel hair?

Don't get your hopes up, little gecko.

I've a cleaver here—beware!

Little, little, little gecko,

With villainous face and shifty eye—

Now, see he dives into your knickers

And everyone comes running on the fly

To see a gecko in his knickers

Who hasn't paid the proper price—

That isn't nice!

Love on Cowback by Hak Chhay Hok, English translation by Nic Bozanic

The Moon vs. Her Loveliness

When your beauty was weighted

Against the moon, my love,

The moon shot up

You came down

And the Creator’s still sprinkling

The counterweights called stars.

Hanumannataka (1672)

"The King's Procession"

Oh, I think with nostalgia of the king’s procession

Oh, I think with nostalgia of the king’s procession

He never traveled alone, he never traveled alone

Always escorted by his army.

Oh, the day started, the day started, with dimly light

Oh, the day started, the day started, with dimly light

Escorted the king, escorted the king who traveled by land.

Oh, the king was on a horseback, the king was on a horseback

The king rode on the back of an elephant

The king was on the back of the royal lion, regarding the forest.

Oh, I continue to think nostalgically

Oh, I continue to think nostalgically

With rejuvenated body

Surrounded by flowers, surrounded by flowers

The king entered the victory hall.

Sdach Yeang, or The King’s Procession in English, is a Khmer wedding song

Composed in baky buon (four-syllable metre)

Each stanza is to be sung twice.

Someone Is Missing

With how sad steps, O Moon, thou climb'st the skies!

How silently, and with how wan a face!

What, may it be that even in heavenly place

That busy archer his sharp arrows tries?

Sure, if that long with love-acquainted eyes

Can judge of love, thou feel'st a lover's case;

I read it in thy looks; thy languisht grace

To me that feel the like, thy state descries.

Then, even of fellowship, O Moon, tell me,

Is constant love deemed there but want of wit?

Are beauties there as proud as here they be?

Do they above love to be loved, and yet

     Those lovers scorn whom that love doth possess?

     Do they call virtue there, ungratefulness?

Astrophil and Stella (1582) Philip Sidney