Hridayakamalam

You heart is like a lotus
unsullied by mire.
My heart is like mire
pretending to be a lotus.
In some moments though
pretence becomes reality.
In those moments, Mother,
I realise the you that I am.

We draw these patterns—
each one set the same way for generations.
Six dots there and six dots here.
The line goes through, the design is clear.

Desire, annoyance, anger, greed, apathy,
arrogance, delusion, self-loathing, ego.
And their twins:
detachment, calm, patience, generosity,
responsibility, humility, perspective, love, caring.

Mire untouched by lotus.
Lotus untouched by mire.

You are the lotus, the mire,
the heart and me,
uplifting and depressing emotions and thoughts.

I count the petals of your lotus-heart
to see which one I am at this moment.
Mire? Lotus? Mire? Lotus?
The answer is always—
I am you and yours.

Chaturthi 2004