Those arbours of vines

And what of those arbours of vines
that grow where the river
drops away from Kalinda Mountain?
They conspired
in the love games of herding girls
and watched over the veiled affairs of Radha.

Now that the days are gone when I
cut their tendrils, and laid them down
for couches of love,
I wonder if they've grown brittle
and if
their splendid blue flowers
have dried up.

(Vidya 7th c.)
Translated by Andrew Schelling

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