Poems by Mirabai Mirabai

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I will sing the praises of Hari

We do not get a human life

Just for the asking.

Birth in a human body

Is the reward for good deeds

In former births.

Life waxes and wanes imperceptibly,

It does not stay long.

The leaf that has once fallen

Mirabai Mirabai

O my mind

O my mind,

Worship the lotus feet of the Indestructible One!

Whatever thou seest twixt earth and sky

Will perish.

Why undertake fasts and pilgrimages?

Why engage in philosophical discussions?

Why commit suicide in Banaras?

Take no pride in the body,

Mirabai Mirabai

Life In The World

Life in the world is short,

Why shoulder an unnecessary load

Of worldly relationships?

Thy parents gave thee birth in the world,

But the Lord ordained thy fate.

Life passes in getting and spending,

No merit is earned by virtuous deeds.

I will sing the praises of Hari

Mirabai Mirabai

I Have Found My Guru

I have found a guru in Raidas, he has

given me the pill of knowledge.

I lost the honor of the royal family, I

went astray with the sadhus.

I constantly rise up, go to God’s

temple, and dance, snapping my

fingers.

I don’t follow the norms as an oldest

Mirabai Mirabai

Do Not Leave Me

Do not leave me alone, a helpless woman.

My strength, my crown,

I am empty of virtues,

You, the ocean of them.

My heart's music, you help me

In my world-crossing.

You protected the king of the elephants.

You dissolve the fear of the terrified.

Mirabai Mirabai

Torn In Shreds

Mine is Gopal, the Mountain-Holder; there is no one else.

On his head he wears the peacock-crown: He alone is my husband.

Father, mother, brother, relative: I have none to call my own.

I've forsaken both God, and the family's honor: what should I do?

I've sat near the holy ones, and I've lost shame before the people.

I've torn my scarf into shreds; I'm all wrapped up in a blanket.

I took off my finery of pearls and coral, and strung a garland of wildwood flowers.

With my tears, I watered the creeper of love that I planted;

Mirabai Mirabai

I Send Letters

I send letters to my Beloved,

The dear Krishna.

But He sends no message of reply,

Purposely preserving silence.

I sweep his path in readiness

And gaze and gaze

Till my eyes turn blood-shot.

I have no peace by night or day,

Mirabai Mirabai

Strange Is The Path When You Offer Love

Do not mention the name of love,

O my simple-minded companion.

Strange is the path

When you offer your love.

Your body is crushed at the first step.

If you want to offer love

Be prepared to cut off your head

And sit on it.

Mirabai Mirabai

The Rainy Season

The rainy season is abroad

And the skirt of my dress is wet.

You have gone off to distant lands,

And my heart finds it unbearable.

I keep sending letters to my Beloved

Asking when He will return.

Mira's Lord is the courtly Giridhara:

O Krishna, O Brother of Balram,

Mirabai Mirabai

I am mad with Love

I am mad with love

And no one understands my plight.

Only the wounded

Understand the agonies of the wounded,

When the fire rages in the heart.

Only the jeweller knows the value of the jewel,

Not the one who lets it go.

In pain I wander from door to door,

Mirabai Mirabai