Sona Potiriyaputta

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

For free distribution only.

It's not for sleeping,
    the night garlanded
    with zodiac stars.
The night, for one who knows,
    is for staying awake.

If I were to fall from my elephant's shoulder,
and a tusker trampled me,
death in battle would be better for me,
than that I, defeated,
survive.