Manjul

Village Princess

Princess River
flowing pressed
between the dark, princely boulders,

they try to hold, to block me but smashing the barriers,
singing,
dancing to the boom of my own rhythm,
I flow.

If I get angry,
hoisting the flood on my back,
I roll over the rocks, carrying them before me,
smashing their embrace, right and left.

If I’m happy,
I come singing—singing songs for everyone,
I trundle down the mountain
to the tune of my own echo..

Translated by Maya Watson