The poem 'The Buddha' by Daya Pawar

THE BUDDHA

Daya Pawar

I never see you 

in Jeta's Garden, 

sitting with your eyes closed,

meditating

in the lotus position, 

or in the Ajanta and Ellora caves, 

with your stone lips

sewn shut, s

sleeping the last sleep of your life. 

I only see you

walking, talking, 

breathing gently, healingly,

on the sorrows of the poor

and the weak, 

going from hut to hut

in the life-destroying darkness

with a torch in your hand,

giving their suffering---

which drains their blood

like a contagious disease---

a whole new meaning.

____________________________

Translated from Marathi by Eleanor Zelliot and Jayant Karve.

SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS

In this poem, the poet is glorifying Buddha who treated everyone as equal. Daya Pawar is telling that he did not know a Buddha who is simply sitting and meditating. The Buddha that he know is travelling and teaching his knowledge to everyone. In the poem there is a reference to Jeta's garden:

"I never see you 

in Jeta's Garden, 

sitting with your eyes closed,

meditating

in the lotus position,"