Clouds

Clouds laden with an immense mass of water,
Surging, swirling clouds,

Clouds that can even
Cover the sun, the moon, and the stars.

They spread their empire here,
Arriving in the world with the monsoon,
Quenching the thirst of the earth,
And filling the plants with life.

The exchange between the sun and the earth
Takes visible form in these clouds;
They appear as living proof,
Heavy and laden with water.

They care not for night or day;
Whenever they wish, they pour down,
Turning the life upon the earth
Completely upside down.

When they begin to pour at night,
With thunder and flashes of lightning,
Deep darkness descends,
And one can hardly see one’s own hand.

And on the nights of Bhadon,
Oh, do not even ask what happens!
They assume a terrifying form
And frighten us even more.

Like an unruly hero,
They wreak havoc everywhere;
They fill the world with life,
Yet they also bring destruction.

Crows, parrots, mynas, and monkeys,
Cows, cats, dogs, and pigs,
Soaked by the rain, search restlessly
Here and there for food.

The heroines filled with the nectar of love,
Immersed in union and separation,
Sing joyfully,
Welcoming the arrival of the clouds.

Small rivers and streams
Begin to flow with renewed enthusiasm,
Spreading across the vast land,
Rushing swiftly onward.

Filled with the juice of life,
Seeds begin to stir;
Breaking through the earth,
They begin to rise above the soil.

Nature plays with changing colours
To keep creation moving;
Every particle becomes eager
To receive the elixir of life.

— Vidya