WHO IS THERE FOR US

Why are children being born
again and again
whenever we come across these children who,
turning terrorized on seeing
chaos around and shiver uncontrollably
our faces writhe and twist and smash
There are none to see their smile
There are none to listen to their words

In the city where that boy was strangulated for money
and crushed to death
In the street with his blood-stains all over
How can I wander in peace and gay abandon?
Oh, Mother, why have you given me birth in this morbid land?

None has an iota of kindness
I am conversing with
Faces full of blood and vengeance
On all my sidesman-eating wild animals wandering in
gay abandon
Oh Mother, why am I like the friend dragged away
by a bloody animal?
The children who suffer for want of
the Milk of Human Kindness
are going in front of me
The mothers who suffer for their children’s sake
talk to me
Oh Mother, why have you reared me
in this Morbid Land?
Those who drag away the children
can take me also just like that one fine night
no, none seems to speak about you and me?
They speak about their cups
Their houses
Their wagons alone
Oh Mother, why have you let me walk along
this vengeful Land?
What more I have to lose
to see the flowers?
Why am I still being chased
by the cruel time of guns piercing the heart ?
I wish to walk along a lane of this city on a peaceful night.
I long to go wandering in the illumination of lights
Without a care in the world.
Oh Mother, how looks a beautiful life?

The cravings and longings for happiness
turn into mere dreams
Time has taken a beating in all senseyou are still lying there under the scorching sun
being acutely burnt
Oh Mother, who is there for us?
____________________

04.06.2010

THANKS: ANANDHIPHOTOGRAPH:

TAKEN IN ALLAARAI DETENTION CAMP ON

A poem by Deebachelvan titled

எங்களுக்காய் யார் இருக்கிறார்கள்?

Translated into English by Latha Ramakrishnan