~Laxmi Prasad Devkota~
Translation : Dominik von Bohlen und Halbach
I am the many coloured daughter of Spring,
Born during the cuckoo’s calling,
Adorned in the caterpillar’s dream;
God gave to me my wings.
Arrayed with countless casts of colour,
And golden dust atop two wings,
After transforming me into an apsara*
God placed me in the garden of Spring.
I am a little girl from the wellspring of beauty,
Bedecked like a celestial spirit.
After weaving me on a loom of emotion
God took my wings and painted them.
With dainty blinking eyes
Glistening darkly in vigilance,
I look for the radiant flower
Which will provide me with a quenching draft.
Adorned in the caterpillar’s dream
My wings are spread out by God
And I flit across the forest and fields,
A form of beauty to behold.
Look at my strange power Oh little One!
My iridescent lace blouse arose from meditation;
From the mean and lowly caterpillar
I was born into such a vibrant likeness.
I drink sweet flowing nectar
In order to live in Spring’s heaven
And whichever direction appeals to me
There I shall zig and flutter and flip-zag.
translation of a poem entitled ‘Putali’ (Butterfly) by Lakshmiprasad Devkota
(Source : Translator’s blog)
