RISING FLAME
OF LOVE
Tanka with vintage Indian matchboxes
Gabriel Rosenstock
RISING FLAME
OF LOVE
Tanka with vintage Indian matchboxes
© Copyright tanka in Irish and English: Gabriel Rosenstock 2021
Bilingual Ekphrastic Tanka
In Irish and English
Artwork: Vintage Indian Matchboxes
The artwork in this book is understood by the author to come
under the category of Fair Use, that is to say, a) the images are
widely available on the internet, and b) the images are not used
in this free e-book for commercial gain.
A bhakti-scented bouquet of tanka poems
in strict syllabic configuration of 5-7-5-7-7.
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Gabriel Rosenstock is a bilingual poet, tankaist,
novelist, haikuist, short story writer, playwright,
essayist and translator.
Blog | Books | Website
Published in association with:
Cross-Cultural Communications
239 Wynsum Avenue Merrick, NY 11566-4725/USA
Tel: 516/868-5635 Fax: 516/379-1901
Email: cccpoetry@aol.com
5
Acknowledgements
The author acknowledges receipt of a bursary
from The Arts Council/ An Chomhairle Ealaíon
to pursue his experiments in the field of Irish-
language tanka, poems of love, longing and
emptiness in the strict syllabic configuration
of 5-7-5-7-7 syllables – in this instance,
responding to vintage matchbox art from
India. Inflammable!
6
7
I
canann éan áidh
lasmuigh de m’fhuinneog gach lá
amhráinín fútsa

insíonn sé dom cá bhfuilir

deimhníonn gur im’ chroíse ataoi
a lucky bird sings
outside my window each day
songs concerning You

telling me where You are now

Belovèd, here in my heart
8
9
II
cosnóidh sí mé,
is glan é mo chroí, a stór
Durga, daingean í

déanfaidh sí scrios ar an namhaid

is slánófar mé. . . duitse
she will protect me
Belovèd, my heart is pure
Durga my fortress

will slay all my enemies

and keep me safe here. . .for You
10
11
III
eitleoidh mé
nó tógfad an traein deiridh
modh iompair ar bith

chun tú a fheiscint, tonga

hath! na ceithre boinn más gá
i ’ll take the last plane
or the last train, Belovèd
the last anything

to see You, the last tonga

hah! shall i crawl on all fours
13
IV
i mo rí tamall
go tobann i mo bhochtán
táim scriosta agat

an ag súgradh atá tú

níl ionam ach puipéad lag
one minute a king
then suddenly a pauper
sheer havoc it is

You’re playing with me, my love

i ’m nothing but a puppet
14
15
V
tar chugam le haghaidh tae
seans gur tháinig tú, cá bhfios
a thine ghealáin

an do do shamhlú atáim

tar i gcomhair tae, a leannáin
i said come for tea
maybe You came – i don’t know
You will-o’-the-wisp

are You a mere fantasy

come for tea, my Belovèd
16
VI
tá constaicí ann
sofheicthe is dofheicthe
is eol, nach eol dom

Sri Ganesh, taispeáin an tslí

an chonair go dtí mo ghrá
many obstacles
visible, invisible
both known and unknown

Sri Ganesh, show me the way

the path to my Belovèd
17
VII
thriaileas Andaman
tada, Goa, Lakshadweep
Deilí is Ladhak

Kerala, Karnataka

faic, níl sí istigh, ar siad
i tried Andaman
no luck, Goa, Lakshadweep
Delhi and Ladhak

Kerala, Karnataka

all said ‘no, She is not in’
18
19
VIII
féach ar an scamall
borrtha le báisteach theolaí
scamall dubh ag teacht

treoraigh chuici mé, Krishna

le d’fheadaíl tríd an bhfearthainn
there is a dark cloud
and it is filled with warm rain
a dark cloud coming

lead me, Krishna, to my love

whistle to Her in the rain
20
IX
dá mba chamaill sinn
stóinsithe diongbháilte
i ngaineamhlach mór

ach tá an duine difriúil

claonadh ionainn dul ar strae
were we both camels
resolute and determined
we’d face a desert

but human beings are different

we get side-tracked on the way
21
X
solas gach réalta
is ea d’ainmse, a shearc
ní bithbhuan don réalt

ach mairfidh d’ainm go deo

san fhirmimint is tusa ann
Belovèd, Your name
is the light of every star
a star may perish

but Your name is forever

this firmament that is You
23
XI
nuair nach gcloistear faic
ach na luchóga rúnda
bím ag smaoineamh ort

i nideoga m’aigne. . .

gura slán gach luch anocht
when nothing is heard
but the stealthy little mice
my thoughts turn to You

in crevices of the mind. . .

may all mice be safe tonight
24
25
XII
táim ar strae ar fad
cad d’imigh orm n’fheadar
táim imithe amú

ag druidim leis an tSiolóin

más é sin is ainm di
i am all at sea
i missed a turn, Belovèd
don’t know where I am

drifting towards Ceylon maybe

someone says, ‘it ’s changed its name’
26
XIII
ag smiotadh leo mhuis’
tar éis na mblianta fada
saoir chloiche Agra

an smaoiníd ar bhuairt an ghrá

nó an cuma leo sa riach
centuries later
they still chip away at stones
masons of Agra

dreaming of love’s old sorrow –

or are they all flint-hearted
27
XIV
tabhair dom dhá sciathán
chun eitilt chugatsa, a shearc
á, cad is fiú é

tá an phaidir seo i mbéal

an mhistigh le míle bliain
give me wings to fly
to You – ah, what is the use
for thousands of years

bard and bhakta have uttered

this prayer – and what has happened
29
XV
lasair gheal an ghrá
scairtfidh mé amach ón díon
is ó ghleannta é

“mo náire!” déarfaidh daoine. . .

na lasracha ag éirí
rising flame of love
let me shout it from the roofs
and in the valleys
people say i have no shame. . .
the rising flame, Belovèd
31
XVI
mise an bas inniu
ordóidh mé rud ar bith
céad rós más mian leat

a thaisce, cad atá uait

an ré agus na réaltaí?
i ’m the boss today
i can order anything
one hundred roses

Belovèd, what do You need

a full moon and all the stars?
33
XVII
stopadh mé, a chuid
ní ciontóir céaduaire mé
arsa an garda

“aithním thú! tusa an file –

hath! Peigeasas ait í sin!”
i was stopped and fined
it wasn’t my first offence
the policeman said

“i know you! you’re the poet –

huh! odd-looking Pegasus!”
34
35
XVIII
bia ar an mbord
ola b’fhéidir don lampa
ag iascach gan stad

tá’s ag an iascaire seo

gur éalaigh tú arís uaidh
food for the table
a drop of oil for the lamp
fishing since daylight

but this fisherman knows well

that You’ve slipped the net again
36
37
XIX
ar ais chun suain leat
dhúisigh tú as taibhreamh mé
a choiligh, led’ thoil!

bhíos chun breith ar lámh léi is –

a dheabhail! coc-a-dúdal-dú
hey, go back to sleep
you have roused me from my dreams
cockerel, give up

i went to take Her hand, then –

dear God! cock-a-doodle-doo
38
39
XX
las mé an lampa
níl leamhan ar bith le feiscint
táid ag dul in éag

tá gach aon ní ag imeacht

is a dteachtaireachtaí uait
i have lit the lamp
no moths come with messages
they are on the wane

Belovèd, all reminders

of You are disappearing
40
41
XXI
fáinne geal an lae
agus roimh dhul faoi don ghrian
bím ag smaoineamh ort

deasghnáth atá ionat

níl lá ná oíche i d’éagmais
Belovèd, at dawn
and before the sun goes down
my thoughts turn to You

You have become a ritual

no night is night without You
43
XXII
beidh mé ceanndána
seasfaidh mé anseo, a chuid
go gcloise mé uait

focal amháin nó osna

comhartha – aon rud in aon chor
i ’ll be stubborn
i shall stand here, Belovèd
till i hear from You

one word will do or a sigh

a sign – anything at all
45
XXIII
chuaigh mé go Sattur
cheannaíos glantóir teanga ann
bréag ní chanaimse

sceitheann an fhírinne uaim

gach siolla dem’ dhán is fíor
i went to Sattur
there i bought a tongue cleaner
truth flows from my tongue

Belovèd, i cannot lie

each word of this poem is true
46
47
XXIV
an tú atá ann
d’fhéachas ar dheis is ar chlé
faic – mealladh mo chluas

mealladh mo shúile chomh maith

an féidir aon ní a thrust
is it You? Your voice?
i looked around – nobody
my ears deceive me

my eyes deceive me as well

i don’t know what to believe
48
49
XXV
lasán níor aimsíos
in Elayirampannai
faic na ngrást, a chuid

snáthaid bheag i gcoca féir

is miotas atá ionat
couldn’t find a match
in Elayirampannai
found nothing at all

a needle in a haystack

Belovèd – You are a myth
50
51
XXVI
céad amhrán nua dhuit
a chuid den saol, thar oíche
laoithe úrnua

gheal an lá, chan an phearóid

gach ceann díobh as Tamailis
one hundred new songs
i wrote for You, Belovèd
only for Your eyes

morning broke and the parrot. . .

he sang them all – in Tamil
52
53
XXVII
in Gudiyattam
lorgaíos thú i ngach ball
sna pictiúrlanna

d’fhéachas ar scata scannán

níor fhanas ’dtí an deireadh
in Gudiyattam
i looked for You everywhere
in the cinemas

I sat through hundreds of films

never staying till the end
54
55
XXVIII
ar strae in Madras
i leabharlann aisteach atáim
buailtear bleid orm:

mise an Coirnéal Olcott

tá tú san áit cheart, a mhic
i ’m lost in Madras
in an occult library
a gentleman says

good day! i ’m Colonel Olcott

you have come to the right place
56
57
XXIX
níl stáisiún anseo
(Ilayarasanendal)
ní raibh éinne romham

thuirlingíos láithreach den traein

bhí na héin ag magadh fúm
there’s no station here
(Ilayarasanendal)
no one to meet me

i alighted from the train

birds mocked me in their own tongue
59
XXX
spéir is muir uaigneach
chuas síos síos sa duibheagán
ní hann atá tú

níl tú ar chlé, a thaisce

ná ar dheis ná áit ar bith
lonely sea and sky
i went down full fathom five
You are not below

nor above nor to my left

nor to my right, Belovèd
60
61
XXXI
léimeas den charraig
ag snámh romham sa mhuir theolaí
San Proinsias Xavier

agus Vivekananda

i dtreonna difriúla
i jumped off the rock
swimming in the warm waters
St Francis Xavier

also Vivekananda

in different directions
62
63
XXXII
an bhfuil sí tagtha
a fhairtheoir, freagair mé
níl cur síos uirthi

aithneoidh tú cinnte í

is bandia í – an Ghainséis!
watchman, has She come
have you been looking for Her
i can’t describe Her

but you will know Her, for sure

She is the goddess Ganga!
64
65
XXXIII
an baile beag seo
lán de phléascóga tine
pléascfaidh sé go luath

san OM sin ón gcéad lá riamh

fíorthús mo chuid trioblóidí
Belovèd, this town
is nothing but firecrackers
it could all explode

in the OM of the first day

when all my troubles began
66
67
XXXIV
uch, Thitttankulam
ghealladar go mbeifeá ann
nach mé an gamal

níl ionam ach snámh raice

ar mhuir gharbh mo mhianta
ah, Thitttankulam
they promised me You’d be there
what a fool i was

i am but flotsam, jetsam

on rough seas of wild desire
69
XXXV
roghnaigh cruth ar bith
bí i d’éinín maidine
nó id’ rud aineoil

bí faram mar is mian leat

ilchruthach mar is dual duit
take on any shape
be a bird in morning skies
be something unknown

be with me in any form

shape-shifter You always were
70
71
XXXVI
Thachanallur – á!
bhíos im’ shiúinéir ann tamall
is bhogas ar aghaidh

ní raibh sa chasúireacht sin

ach d’ainm agam á rá
Thachanallur – ah!
i did some carpentry there
then quickly moved on

and all of my hammering
was the japa of Your name
72
XXXVII
an ann duit nó as
ag canadh don aer atáim
éist liom, a thaisce

le laoi na heala dílse

is a leathéan ar iarraidh
are You flesh and blood
or do i sing to the air
listen, Belovèd

the song of the faithful swan

when its mate has flown away
73
XXXVIII
do ghoineas mé féin
uaim féin a tháinig an nimh
taoise gan pheaca

ní chuirfinn olc i do leith. . .

mo mhianta a nimhigh mé
myself i ’ve bitten
this poison has come from me
You are innocent

i shall never accuse You. . .

my own desire poisoned me
74
XXXIX
in Thayilpatty
bhí damhán alla ag fí
theitheas ón mbaile

damhán alla ceanndána. . .

chuir mo laige ag gol mé
in Thayilpatty
a spider wove all day long
i ran from the town

spider! so full of purpose

i wept at my fecklessness
75
XL
tar, a chuid ag siúl
tar liom faoin mbáisteach theolaí
is geal liom gach braon

ag sileadh le do leiceann

comhartha an ghrá éagmaise
Belovèd, come walk
walk with me in the warm rain
i love how it streams

flowing down Your face like tears

for a love You have not found
76
XLI
lasair neamh-mhianta
lasair nach mbíonn ag preabadh
laom mínádúrtha

deireadh le mianta, a mhian

corraíonn leoithne loiteog
flame of non-desire
it does not flicker at all
defying nature

a desire to end desire

a breeze touches the lotus
77
XLII
bhí mé in Trichur
bhí Naomh Tomás ann romhamsa
(gan amhras ar bith)

stán gadhál ailbíneach orm

ar feadh i bhfad ’stigh sa zú
i came to Trichur
as Doubting Thomas once did
(when free of all doubt)

a strange albino mithun

stared at me long in the zoo
78
XLIII
an t-am faoi deara
gan solas sinn a shroicheadh
ar Meister Eckhart

Kali, a chruthaigh an t-am

cleatar do sciorta cnámh
it ’s because of time
that the light does not reach us
said Meister Eckhart

Kali, creator of time

the rattle of your bone skirt
79
XLIV
Nandi, a Nandi
bí id’ ghúrú, id’ threoraí
táim ar an mbóthar

ní fios cén treo, i ngach treo

is mé sa tóir ar m’ansacht
Nandi, oh Nandi
be my guru and my guide
i set out once more

in all directions and none

in search of my own true love
80
81
XLV
clúmh geal an choiligh
dathanna na camhaoire
laethanta folmha

oíche eile i d’éagmais

ag feitheamh leis an gcoileach
the cock’s bright plumage
is the colour of the dawn
my days are empty

another night without You

waiting for a cock to crow
82
83
XLVI
cé a chuala riamh
faoi éan nach gcanfadh nóta
nó sruth ina stad

réaltaí gan loinnir uathu

a ansacht – focal amháin!
who has ever heard
of a bird that does not sing
a river that’s still

or stars that refuse to shine

Belovèd – say but one word!
84
85
XLVII
dhiailigh mé uimhir
‘cuir tríd anois mé, led’ thoil’
an uimhir mhícheart!

cuireadh síos an fón, a chuid

táim ag rith as uimhreacha
i dialled a number
‘put me through to Her now, please’
‘twas the wrong number!

Belovèd, i was cut off

i ’m running out of numbers
87
XLVIII
blúirí thall is abhus
blúirí de mo chroí briste
comharthaí is ea iad

gur ghabhas an chonair seo tráth

is níl faic eile le rá
bits left here and there
tiny shreds of broken heart
an indication

that i ’ve passed this way before

there is nothing else to say
88
89
XLIX
do fhliuchas mo bhéal
le huisce ón Periyar
abhainn fhada fhionnuar

anuas ó Chokkampatti

ar aghaidh liom is mé buíoch di
i stopped for a drink
from the Periyar River
the waters were cool

from the Chokkampatti hills

in gratitude i moved on
90
L
is rópa teann é
an rópa ar a ndamhsaím
tar is féach orm

duitse amháin an damhsa

nó is dom mhuineál an chnáib
a tight rope it is
the strong rope on which i dance
dear one, come see me

this dance is for You only

come – or the rope’s for my neck
91
LI
inis dom, a chuid
cé thusa nó cé mise
cá bhfuilimid beirt

a Bhanríon Vṛndāvana

Rādhārāṇī! tusa, ‘bea
Belovèd, tell me
who are You and who am i
where are we two now

o Queen of Vṛndāvana

Rādhārāṇī is it You
93
LII
nach bhfaca tú í
Sai Baba, i d’aislingí
in eitilt na n-éan

lonraíonn sí um thráthnóna

nuair a lastar na lampaí
surely you’ve seen Her
Sai Baba, in a vision
heard Her in birdsong

Her lustre in the evening

when the holy lamp is lit
95
LIII
canann sé, a shearc
is is eol do na daimh é
tá seanamhrán fút

i gcroí an treabhdóra

chomh glan le mo chroí féinig
he sings, Belovèd
and the oxen know the song
that old song for You

it’s deep in the ploughman’s heart

as sure as it is in mine
97
LIV
tá’s agat an scéal
croí na giofóige ionam
ní shocróidh sé síos

glaonn na sléibhte gorma

foraois níos ársa ná am
You know it so well
this wild gypsy heart of mine
it cannot settle

the blue mountains are calling

and forests older than time
99
LV
seolaimis arís
cúluiscí glé Kerala
i mbáidín éadrom

beadsa im’ dhíoltóir lachan

is ár n-ál romhainn, a thaisce
let us sail once more
those backwaters to the south
in a flimsy boat

and i ’ll be a duckseller

our flock swimming before us
101
LVI
m’aigne ag teip
an cholainn tréithlag, a chuid
ach deir m’anam liom:

níl sé thart go fóill ná é

beidh ort tosnú as an nua
my mind’s giving way
and my body is crumbling
yet my spirit says:

no, it is not yet over

it may take many more lives