Ferry Of The Soul

[Guest guest]

Ferry Of The Soul

 

 

Oh Tara, ferry of the soul,

help me get across!

I've fallen into the waves

and don't know how to swim.

My body is a worn-out boat

laden heavily with sin.

What can I grasp, what can I do?

I can't cross

this ocean of existence

on my own.

 

I thought I'd go to Banaras,

and live the holy life

while waiting to die.

But I fell into the waters

of the ocean of desire;

now I'm drowning again.

I can't reach either shore,

they're both so far away.

You're the ferryman in the middle-

the poet Kali's only hope

is Kali at the helm.

 

Kalidas Bhattacharya

 

[At the end of the following poem, the poet shortens his name

to "Kali" as well, to pun with the name of his goddess.]