I lived from 1340-1430.
I was from India, and am in the Asian category.
Vidyapathi was the poet in Raja Shivasimha’s court and it is said that once when the king had been captured by the Mughal rulers from Delhi, Vidyapathi pleased the Mughal king’s heart with his songs and obtained the release of his master. A collection of hundreds of his poems titled the Padavalli is still the source for the most romantic poetry describing the love between Krishna (the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu) and Radha. His songs are sung to this day in Mithila, in Bihar.
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Weaving devotion into love results in an awakening that makes the word more eloquent and the imagery more vibrant. That is just what Vidyapathi does in his poetry. Vidyapathi lived till he was 90 years of age, an incurable romantic till the end.
Poetry is best in its original and the best of translations are still aspirations. These freely translated verses are just to give a glimpse of Vidyapathi.
He Hari! He Hari! Listen to me with care.
This is not the time to make love. All the stars in the sky have disappeared,
The koels sing their morning song
The peacocks after calling out to the rising sun, have quietened nd the moon is weakening in the sky,
Young boys are taking the cows along the grazing path and the bees are settling on flowers.
On the face, the make-up of last evening has rubbed away this is not the time for love-play.
Says Vidyapathi, that the time is not right, for the whole world will then, criticize.
Here is another sample, also from Vidyapathi:
Oh my dear, the night is over, gently trembling the lotus has bloomed
The bee is looking for her mate who had spend the night with the flowers,
The radiance of the lamp has dimmed and the sky is light.
From all these signs I think it is dawn.
Now my love leave me, for we will meet again by the honour of cupid, and it should be remembered that only so much must be stolen that comes one’s way.
It does not befit a man like you, to keep me locked in your embrace ever after daybreak.
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