Dhuni (Hindi)

चिमनी मेरे आग-गड्ढे है,
और मैं नग्न हूं
किसी भी नग्न साधु के रूप में
लेकिन मैं एक शिक्षक नहीं हूँ,
सिर्फ एक रक्षक
पवित्र अग्नि का

Abolla - Dhuni

The fireplace is my dhuni,
and I am as naked
as any nanga sadhu.
But I am not a teacher,
just a tender
of the sacred fire.

Palimpsest - A minha desnudez

A minha desnudez é
a minha terapia, y
a minha amante.
Ela dorme comigo
y comparte as minhas
comidas.
Bailamo junto.
Mas quando salgo
a la cashe
ou quando vo
ao centro
tenho que enropá me
no incómodo disfarce
dos feridos.

My Nakedness

My nakedness is
my therapy, and
my lover.
She sleeps with me
and shares my meals.
We dance together.
But when I go out
into the street
or when I go
downtown
I have to put on
the uncomfortable disguise
of the wounded.

Dhuni

The fireplace is my dhuni,*
and I am as naked
as any nanga sadhu.**
But I am not a teacher,
just a tender
of the sacred
fire.

* ritual firepit
** naked ascetic

Commentary on Gymniad - VI and Preceding

There is a photographer, Spencer Tunick, who uses (many) naked bodies in his art. He gets ever-larger crowds of naked people to pose for him. I'm sure he's broken several Guinness records. Almost invariably, the people who pose say it was an enjoyable and liberating experience, and they often say that they'd like to do it again. (This in spite of the fact that he often requires them to strip off before 5:00 a,m., even on cold mornings). This tells me that people really need nudity, it has been kept away from them too long. Let's work to normalize nudity, and enjoy life the more! It's essential.

Photo by Spencer Tunick Models: the people of Hull.

Palimpsest - LXIII

Faze muito frío mas estoy muito nu,
calentado por un fogo interno
e impelido por una visón
do que huvisse podido ser.

It is very cold but I am very naked,
warmed by an inner fire
and driven by a vision
of what could have been.

I invite translations of my Gymniad series into other languages. The poems are unrhymed, and there are six of them at present, plus a couple of commentary entries. I'll give translator credit, and will barter other translation work that I can do (preferably into English, which is my native language). Please consider it. Thanks.