saptapadi - Seven Steps

Seven steps (saptapadi)

From that day in the distant past
to this day in the misty present
I am always
f
o
l
l
o
w
i
n
g
you

I am doing whatever you ask me to do
I am observing whatever you want me to view
I am listening to all that you utter

I followed you to the bowels of the dense forests
At your command, I jumped into the fire
Alone, I brought up our children
Actually, my life is like
the proverbial moonlight in the forest

You refused to acknowledge
our secret love on that dark night
Instead your suspicious nature
sent me back to those deep dark woods

I became a stake to be bet and lost in your game
When I was in my periods that animal disrobed me
Stunned and impotent, you were all just watching
Again I followed you to the forest, to where else?

I followed you even when you were
disgusting to look at, worthless to the core
and impotent as a man

Everybody said you are my God
Alas, when that immortal God died,
I immolated myself along with you

When I was a doll-like little girl playing with dolls
They shaved my head and the long tresses fell to the ground
They then asked me to spend the rest of my life
observing fasts and penances

Just because my father was poor
and could not satiate your growing greed
when your mother, another woman like me,
tried to accidentally burn me by dousing me in flames of kerosene
you kept mum and hid behind your mom

Among the six qualities for an ideal wife
you liked only two -
to work like a slave
to satisfy you like a slave

From that day in the distant past
to this day
I am always
f
o
l
l
o
w
i
n
g
you

I am doing whatever you ask me to do
I am observing whatever you want me to view
I am listening to all that you utter

With love, hope, anxiety and expectancy
I am waiting for that dawn of happiness
and for that dawn of a new life
But my life has become a nightmare
of dark and unending and unendurable nights

What is hanging around my neck?
Is it a serpent or a rope?
Those three knots suffocate me
I can not even take a deep breath
I am going to cut this guardian knot
At last, I am going to cut this Brahma's knot

Yes or no
This or that
Accept or reject
To leave or to stay
Finally I decided to leave
At last I decided to leave and to live

Not seven steps, not three steps
Not even a single step
am I going to share with you hereafter

(After the traditional Hindu marriage, the bride and the groom exchange promises around the holy fire by going around it seven times. This is called saptapadi. The first step is for food, the second for energy, the third for wealth, the fourth for goodness, the fifth for progeny, the sixth for long life and the seventh for friendship.)

Based on the Telugu original that may be read here - http://www.eemaata.com/em/issues/200801/1196.html

Regards! - mOhana