I Will Not Let You Go

Odilon Redon "Reflection"

I caught the thief of Pandhari

by tying a rope around his neck.

I made my heart the prison cell

and locked him up inside.

I bound him firmly with the Word,

I fettered his holy feet,

I thrashed him, whipped him

with the word so'ham

while Vitthal complained bitterly.

Sorry, O Lord,

says Jani,

by my life I will not let you go.

by Janabai

translation by Sarah Sellergren