On the edge of a platform of light
A shadow like darkness
Crouches and watches
Moves so slowly it's as if it hasn't moved at all
Flows as if it hasn't flowed at all
Regurgitates the story of darkness.
In the pitch-dark darkness
There is no hatred no smouldering
No us no them no we no you
The pathway between sleep and waking is full
Of dreams blossoming, creating every moment
A new world

Shadows that have walked all the way from the town of light
In darkness they lose their form and features
Take off their hatred and smouldering
Water merges with water
Dissolves indivisible
Flows in the dark as darkness
The darkness has no hands to bring hand and hand together
To kiss no lips no yoni no linga
Bodies melt in the dark
The formless merges with formlessness
Exists
Spreads darkly

The moment the shadow steps out of the darkness
Such a ghastly form springs up from under its feet
Such a big-long contorted-distorted form
Takes off its breasts hides its yoni becomes lingaikya
Shedding she for he
From womanliness to manliness merging
With the evil desire to rule millions of galaxies
AkhilaandaKotiBrahmanda
It walks trampling the shadow out of existence

As the shadows quietly crouch
On the edge of a platform of light
They shrink the dreams they had in darkness
Look forward once again to the nights that are to come

Translated from Kannada by Sampurna Chattarji with the poet