Donald Traxler's Poetry

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

92,000 Visits and Three Pseudonyms

I'm happy to announce that visits to this blog now number more than 92,000. I thank you all for your support of my writing and photography.

In the nearly four years of its existence, the blog has evolved considerably. In the beginning it was all original poetry, which I supplemented in time with my own photographic illustrations. Eventually I added my translations of the Kashmiri poet Lalla, as well as excerpts from the Devi Mahatmyam and other works of Hindu religious literature. In time I incorporated translations of some of the Psalms, as well as prose articles concerned with various subjects related to the Old and New Testaments, including the Synoptic Problem, and the process of translation itself. Along the way, I somehow found time for creation of the Udugi language, a dictionary for it, and both original writings and translations in the language.

Somewhere in the mix, I wrote a multipart Journal of a Naked Poet, giving salient events from various periods of my life. I can see now that I shall very likely have to add a few new chapters to it.

One of the purposes of the blog is to reflect my own interior changes and beliefs, and to develop exterior expressions of the same. This is an exciting process, and you will find it reflected in my poem series Upanishad, currently extending to nine parts. I have a feeling that there will be more.

I have applied several names and variations of names to these various categories of my work. I wrote the general poetry of the earlier period as Donald C. Traxler, my legal name. In late 2017, partly to honor my late friend Reb Yakov Leib HaKohain (YaLHaK, the poet L. G. Corey) and partly to honor the family of my paternal grandmother, Judith Jacobson, I began using Donald Jacobson Traxler for all poetic work outside the Hindu tradition. I shall continue to do so.

For works in the Hindu tradition, I formerly used Nagna Devidas, but because of the evolution of my spiritual experiences and views, which are now non-theistic, I am now using Nagna Chidaananda. Both of these last reflect the fact that I live my life unclothed, at least so far as possible.

That last fact is also the reason why I'm using a new self-portrait, which you will see below, as my on-line profile picture.

I would like to thank you all, once again, for your continued interest and enthusiasm.

Monday, August 31, 2020

Upanishad IX - KuNDaliNI / कुंडलिनी

KuNDalinI has been steering my boat,

from Ajña and thousand-petaled Sahasrar,

and where She goes, I follow.

Living on multiple levels,

inhabiting other dimensions,

I clearly see from afar

that there is only consciousness,

and the world's illusion

is hollow.

Nagna says:

We are part of a multi-dimensional, conscious universe.

Only illusion can die.

कुंडलिनी मेरी नाव संचालन किया गया है,

छठे और हजार पत्थरों वाले सहस्रार से,

और जहां वह जाती है, मैं अनुसरण करता हूं।

कई स्तरों पर रहते हैं,

अन्य आयामों का निवास,

मैं स्पष्ट रूप से दूर से देखता हूं

कि केवल चेतना है,

और दुनिया का भ्रम

खोखला है।

नग्न कहते हैं:

हम एक बहुआयामी, जागरूक ब्रह्मांड का हिस्सा हैं।

केवल भ्रम मर सकता है।

Saturday, August 29, 2020

Upanishad VIII - When Consciousness Approaches / जब चेतना पास आती है

When consciousness approaches,

consciousness is raised.

Nagna says:

It is not necessary to say anything.

जब चेतना पास आती है,

चेतना जगी है।

नग्न कहते हैं:

कुछ भी कहना जरूरी नहीं है।

Friday, August 28, 2020

A Blast from the Past

Back in 2015 I wrote lyrics for a song, but wrote no music for it. At the time I had no keyboard, which is the easiest way for me to pick out a melody. I sent the lyrics to my musical cousin Fergus, in Ireland, but nothing ever came of that--Fergus is a busy man.

I still had it in my head to do something with it, but had neither the time nor the keyboard. I gave the lyrics to our friend Ana Ceballos, who owns the beach house next to ours in Aguas Dulces. She is one of the most well known guitarists (and guitar teachers) in Uruguay. Wonder of wonders, they other day we received a recording of my song. Better yet, Ana and her friend, Olguita Alemán (also an excellent guitar player), told us that since we left Uruguay, they have had a tradition of singing and playing my song on the beach at night when they visit the beach house.

I am unfortunately not able to attach the .m4a audio file, but here is the poem on which the song is based. Hope you like it

COTTING ON THE BOARDS

Sally with your long, dark hair,

Sally with your eyes so bright,

Sally with your lovely smile,

We'll be cotting on the boards tonight.

And I may kiss you on the cheek,

More I cannot do,

For I know you love a woman,

And I know she loves you, too.

[Sally with your long, dark hair. . . ]

And we shall share our lovely dreams,

But we'll do nothing more

Than give us each a fond embrace,

Though I've loved you from afar.

[Sally with your long, dark hair. . . ]

Upanishad VII - Wisdom / बुद्धि

Wisdom is putting the parts together,

accepting and embracing them all.

Nagna says:

The integration of the self

is the work of lifetimes.

बुद्धि भागों को एक साथ रख रही है,

उन सभी को स्वीकार करना और उन्हें गले लगाना।

नग्न कहते हैं:

स्व का एकीकरण

जीवनकाल का काम है।

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Upanishad VI - There Is Magic in the Air / हवा में जादू है

There is magic in the air,

and all that consciousness can conceive

is possible.

Nagna says:

For consciousness,

there is no obstruction.

हवा में जादू है,

और वह सब चेतना की कल्पना कर सकते हैं

संभव है।

नग्न कहते हैं:

चेतना के लिए,

कोई बाधा नहीं है।

Upanishad V - This Body / यह शरीर

This body is a vehicle of consciousness,

a bridge between worlds,

a canceler of time and space.

Its nerves are a telegraph

to the stars.

This body is a fountain of life,

and a river of truth.

Nagna says:

When this body ceases to function,

it will be replaced.

यह शरीर चेतना का वाहन है,

दुनिया के बीच एक पुल,

समय और स्थान का रचयिता।

इसकी नसें एक तार होती हैं

सितारों तक।

यह शरीर जीवन का एक फव्वारा है,

और सत्य की एक नदी।

नग्न कहते हैं:

जब यह शरीर कार्य करना बंद कर देता है,

इसे बदल दिया जाएगा।