Gymniad VII

Living in my skin,
this 75-year-old skin,
brings me closer to life
and its mysteries.
Have their been
other skins?
Will I begin
again?
To what am I kin,
if not the ocean,
and the stars?

Guaraní Ghosts

Guaraní ghosts chant
through the night,
singing the sun up
and bringing us light.

We live by their leave,
and they by ours,
in a tangled web
of ancient dreams.

The Magical Realism of Sister Dorothy

I lost my life
to a yellow knife,
I lost my heart
to a poison dart.
I found my soul
in an antique bowl.
I grew and grew
'til I became you.
No life is more wild
than that of a child.
We are alone,
but we are  one.

I Have Searched for You

I have searched for you
all my life,
in ancient texts
and forgotten languages,
but you were here
all the time.
Nagna says: The goddess
is all-pervading.

--Nagna Devidas (Donald Traxler)

मैंने आपके लिए खोज की है
मेरी पूरी जिंदगी,
प्राचीन ग्रंथों में
और भूल भाषाएं,
लेकिन आप यहां थे
पुरे समय।
नग्न कहते हैं: देवी है
सभी सर्वव्यापी।

A Conjunction of Benefics

Will it be enough,
this balm of benefics,
to heal the hurt
of a world torn apart
by greed?
Will those most in need
lead?
Will its angularity
bring solidarity?
Or will Venus
and Jupiter
cover their eyes
as they cross
in the night?

It Is to You

It is to you, my sister,
that I bow every day.
My brothers and I
have much to atone for.
We shall spare you our words,
and pray with our actions,
and spend our days in listening,
and in giving thanks.

Ocean as Text

With the ocean as text,
and the sun as religion,
faith morphs to certainty,
and wisdom is at hand.

This book pre-dates the rest,
its pages constantly turning,
it has spawned all others,
birthing life in myriad forms.

For ritual we have the sun,
our compass and our guide,
leading us through the elements,
around the wheel of the year.

Our chant is breath,
our hymn is life,
and we are the idols
to which we bow.

Our temple is a world,
our commandment love,
our history is genetic,
our time is now.

Our time is now,
our time is now.

mUrtirahasyam 25

दॆव्या ध्यानं मया ख्यातं गुह्याद् गुह्यतरं महत् | 
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नॆन सर्वकामफलप्रदम् || 25 ||

dEvyA dhyAnaM mayA khyAtaM guhyAd guhyataraM mahat |

tasmAtsarvaprayatnEna sarvakAmaphalapradam || 25 ||

Meditation on the goddess, I say, is the greatest of all secrets,

therefore with all diligence there will be all fulfillment of desires. 

Partial Reveal

We stride through multi-dimensionality,
worlds upon worlds,
layers upon layers.
As we do, we reveal only parts,
and the rest is hidden,
even from ourselves.

Time is cyclic and recursive,
space is ten-dimensional chess.
We have many lives to live,
and forgetting has a cost.
But nothing, nothing
is ever lost.

Studying the Architecture of Seashells

Studying the architecture of seashells,
the angle of the morning sun,
and the fathomless reach
of the tide,
I pass my days.
One could do
no better.

rAtrisUktam 8

उप तॆ गा इवाकरं वृणीष्व दुहितर्दिवः | 
रात्रि स्तोमं न जिग्युषॆ || 8 ||

upa tE gA ivAkaraM vRRiNIShva duhitardivaH |

rAtri stomaM na jigyuShE || 8 ||

O daughter of heaven: accept as you would a gift of cattle,

O night, this hymn (offered as if) to a conqueror.

rAtrisUktam 7

उप मा पॆपिशत्तमः कृष्णं व्यक्तमस्थित | 
उष ऋणॆव यातय || 7 ||

upa mA pEpishattamaH kRRiShNaM vyaktamasthita |

uSha RRiNEva yAtaya || 7 ||

Above me, the black darkness is reddening.

O Dawn, cancel it like debts.

Arriba de mi, la negra oscuridad se enrojece. 

O Alba, cancélala como unas deudas.

मेरे ऊपर, काला अंधेरा लाल हो रहा है।

हे सुबह, कर्ज की तरह इसे रद्द करें

rAtrisUktam 6

यावया वृक्यं वृकं यवय स्तॆनमूर्म्यॆ | 
अथा नः सुतरा भव || 6 ||

yAvayA vRRikyaM vRRikaM yavaya stEnamUrmyE |

athA naH sutarA bhava || 6 ||

Keep away the she-wolf and the wolf, keep away the thief in the night,

and be easy for us to pass through.

rAtrisUktam 5

नि ग्रामासो अविक्षत नि पद्वन्तो नि पक्षिणः | 
नि श्यॆनासश्चिदर्थिनः || 5 ||

ni grAmAso avikShata ni padvanto ni pakShiNaH |

ni shyEnAsashchidarthinaH || 5 ||

The villagers have gone to sleep, as have all that walk, and all that fly,

even the hungering hawks.

Poet at 75, in Birthday Suit

This is a token
that rules are made
to be broken.
I broke the rule,
and I lied to boot.
It isn't my birthday,
but it's my only suit.

The Poet is a Seer

The poet is a seer
who sees the muse's gift,
the poet is a rishi,
and gives the soul a lift.
The poem is a hymn,
and payment for the muse,
verses in a veda,
left for us to use.

Nagna says: There is no muse
like the goddess.

--Nagna Devidas (Donald Traxler)

कवि एक द्रष्टा है
जो म्यूज के उपहार को देखता है,
कवि एक ऋषि है,
और आत्मा को लिफ्ट देता है
कविता एक भजन है,
और ध्यान के लिए भुगतान,
एक वेद में छंद,
हमारे लिए उपयोग करने के लिए छोड़ दिया

नग्न कहते हैं: कोई प्रेरणा नहीं है
देवी की तरह

rAtrisUktam 4

सा नो अद्य यस्या वयं नि तॆ यामन्नविक्ष्महि | 
वृक्षॆ न वसतिं वयः || 4 ||

sA no adya yasyA vayaM ni tE yAmannavikShmahi |

vRRikShE na vasatiM vayaH || 4 ||

Now she is upon us, and we go to rest for the night

as birds in the tree.

rAtrisUktam 3

निरु स्वसारमस्कृतोषसं दॆव्यायती | 
अपॆदु हासतॆ तमः || 3 ||

niru svasAramaskRRitoShasaM dEvyAyatI |

apEdu hAsatE tamaH || 3 ||

As she comes,the goddess makes a place for her sister uShas (Dawn),

and the darkness, laughed at, goes away.

rAtrisUktam 2

ओर्वप्रा अमर्त्या निवतो दॆव्युद्वतः | 
ज्योतिषा बाधतॆ तमः || 2 ||

orvaprA amartyA nivato dEvyudvataH |

jyotiShA bAdhatE tamaH || 2 ||

Immortal, the goddess has filled the void, and height and depth.

Darkness is banished by her light.

rAtrisUktam 1

ॐ रात्री व्यख्यदायती पुरुत्रा दॆव्यक्षभिः | 
विश्वा अधि श्रियोऽधित || 1 ||

OM rAtrI vyakhyadAyatI purutrA dEvyakShabhiH |

vishvA adhi shriyo.adhita || 1 ||

OM. The goddess Night, approaching, illumines every place with her eyes.

She has put on all her glories.

dEvIsUktam 8

अहमॆव वात इव प्रवाम्यारभमाणा भुवनानि विश्वा | 
परो दिवा पर एना पृथिव्यैतावती महिना सं बभूव || 8 ||

ahamEva vAta iva pravAmyArabhamANA bhuvanAni vishvA |

paro divA para enA pRRithivyaitAvatI mahinA saM babhUva || 8 ||

I breathe a breath like the wind, stirring all the worlds.

In my grandeur I have come to be beyond earth and sky.

dEvIsUktam 7

अहं सुवॆ पितरमस्य मूर्धन् मम योनिरप्स्वन्तः समुद्रॆ | 
ततो वि तिष्ठॆ भुवनानु विश्वोतामं द्यां वर्ष्मणोप स्पृशामि || 7 ||

ahaM suvE pitaramasya mUrdhan mama yonirapsvantaH samudrE |

tato vi tiShThE bhuvanAnu vishvotAmaM dyAM varShmaNopa spRRishAmi || 7 ||

At the world's summit I bring forth the Father, my yoni is in the waters, in the ocean.

Thence I extend over all beings and touch yonder heaven with my forehead.

dEvIsUktam 6

अहं रुद्राय धनुरा तनोमि ब्रह्मद्विषॆ शरवॆ हन्तवा उ | 
अहं जनाय समदं कृणोम्यहं द्यावापृथिवी आ विवॆश || 6 ||

ahaM rudrAya dhanurA tanomi brahmadviShE sharavE hantavA u |

ahaM janAya samadaM kRRiNomyahaM dyAvApRRithivI A vivEsha || 6 ||

I draw the bow for rudra, that his arrow may strike the enemy of devotion.

I gather the people for battle, and I have penetrated through heaven and earth.

dEvIsUktam 5

अहमॆव स्वयमिदं वदामि जुष्टं दॆवॆभिरुत मानुषॆभिः | 
यं कामयॆ तं तमुग्रं कृणोमि तं ब्रह्माणं तमृषिं तं सुमॆधाम् || 5 ||

ahamEva svayamidaM vadAmi juShTaM dEvEbhiruta mAnuShEbhiH |

yaM kAmayE taM tamugraM kRRiNomi taM brahmANaM tamRRiShiM taM sumEdhAm || 5 ||

I myself say this, which is welcomed by gods and men alike:

whomever I love I make mighty, I make that one a brahmANa, a RRiShi, and a sage.

dEvIsUktam 4

मया सो अन्नमत्ति यो विपश्यति यः प्राणीति य ईं शृणोत्युक्तम् | 
अमन्तवो मां त उपक्षियन्ति श्रुधि श्रुत श्रद्धिवं तॆ वदामि || 4 ||

mayA so annamatti yo vipashyati yaH prANiiti ya IM shRRiNotyuktam |

amantavo mAM ta upakShiyanti shrudhi shruta shraddhivaM tE vadAmi || 4 ||

Through me alone all eat (live), the one who sees, breathes, hears what is spoken.

They do not know it, yet they abide in me. Hear the truth that I speak to you.

dEvIsUktam 3

अहं राष्ट्री सङ्गमनी वसूनां चिकितुषी प्रथमा यञियानाम् | 
तां मा दॆवा व्यदधुः पुरुत्रा भूरिस्थात्रां भूर्यावॆशयन्तीम् || 3 ||

ahaM rAShTrI saN^gamanI vasUnAM chikituShI prathamA yaJNiyAnAm |

tAM mA dEvA vyadadhuH purutrA bhUristhAtrAM bhUryAvEshayantIm || 3 ||

I am the Queen in whom all the auspicious gods are joined together. I, of shining consciousness,

am the first among those worthy of worship. Thus the gods have established me in many places

where I abide..

dEvIsUktam 2

अहं सोममाहनसं बिभर्म्यहं त्वष्टारमुत पूषणं भगम् | 
अहं दधामि द्रविणं हविष्मतॆ सुप्राव्यॆ यजमानाय सुन्वतॆ || 2 ||

ahaM somamAhanasaM bibharmyahaM tvaShTAramuta pUShaNaM bhagam |

ahaM dadhAmi draviNaM haviShmatE suprAvyE yajamAnAya sunvatE || 2 ||

I bear the soma of immortalty, and I support tvaShTar, puShan, and bhaga,

I bestow wealth upon those who prepare and offer the sacrifices with devoted mind.

 

dEvIsUktam 1

ॐ अहं रुद्रॆभिर्वसुभिश्चराम्यहमादित्यैरूत विश्वदॆवैः | 
अहं मित्रावरुणोभा बिभर्म्यहमिन्द्राग्नी अहमश्विनोभा || 1 ||

OM ahaM rudrEbhirvasubhishcharAmyahamAdityairUta vishvadEvaiH |

ahaM mitrAvaruNobhA bibharmyahamindrAgnI ahamashvinobhA || 1 ||

OM. I move with the rUdras and the vasus, with the Adityas and the all-gods.

I carry mitrA and varUNa, indra and agnI, and the two ashvins.

In the past twenty-four hours, the poetry blog has had visits from the United States, Canada, Ukraine, Uruguay, Ireland, Thailand, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, and France. The world needs #poetry.

dEvIkavacham 61

तत्र गच्छति गत्वासौ पुनश्चागमनं नहि | 
लभतॆ परमं स्थानं शिवॆन समतां व्रजॆत् || 61 ||

tatra gachChati gatvAsau punashchAgamanaM nahi |

labhatE paramaM sthAnaM shivEna samatAM vrajEt ||61 ||

He goes there, and having gone, there is surely no return.

He will attain the supreme state, and will enter into equality with shiva.

dEvIkavacham 60

दॆहान्तॆ परमं स्थानं सुरैरपि सुदुर्लभम् | 
प्राप्नोति पुरूषो नित्यं महामायाप्रसादतः || 60 ||

dEhAntE paramaM sthAnaM surairapi sudurlabham |

prApnoti purUSho nityaM mahAmAyAprasAdataH || 60 ||

At the body's end, through the grace of mahAmAyA, this person will obtain the 

supreme, eternal state, very difficult even for the gods to attain.

dEvIkavacham 59

यावद् भूमण्डलं धत्तॆ सशैलवनकाननम् | 
तावत्तिष्ठति मॆदिन्यां सन्ततिः पुत्रपौत्रिकी || 59 ||

yAvad bhUmaNDalaM dhattE sashailavanakAnanam |

tAvattiShThati mEdinyAM santatiH putrapautrikI || 59 ||

As long as the circle of the earth, with its mountains, forests, and groves shall last,

so long shall his progeny of children and grandchildren be established on the land.

If John Were In His Seventies

"All you need is love."
--John Lennon

If John were in his seventies,
like me,
what would he think,
what would he see?
A power-mad world,
disinformation war,
division and greed.
I can't give him words,
but think he might say
that when we're at our best
we're indivisible.
We're stronger
than any foreign puppet
or racist dictator.
When we're at our best
we're indivisible,
stronger than any crook,
stronger than any mob,
and only love
can do the job.

dEvIkavacham 58

जपॆत् सप्तशती चण्डी कृत्वा तु कवचं पुरा | 
निर्विग्नॆन भवॆत् सिद्धिश्चण्डीजपसमुद्भवा || 58 ||

japEt saptashatI chaNDI kRRitvA tu kavachaM purA |

nirvignEna bhavEt siddhishchaNDIjapasamudbhavA || 58 ||

He should chant the 700-verse chaNDI, having first done the armor.

Without interruption, he should accomplish the chanting of the chaNDI.

dEvIkavacham 57

यशोवृद्धिर्भवॆत् पुंसां कीर्तिवृद्धिश्च जायतॆ | तस्मात् जपॆत् सदा भक्तः कवचं कामदं मुनॆ || 57 ||

yashovRRiddhirbhavEt puMsAM kIrtivRRiddhishcha jAyatE |

tasmAt japEt sadA bhaktaH kavachaM kAmadaM munE || 57 ||

The man will become famous, and his praise will be everywhere.

Therefore the devotee should always chant the wish-fulfilling armor, O wise one.