o Deebachelvan ----------------------------------------(Translated into English by Latha Ramakrishnan)
-------------------------------
in the field, so full of grass and weeds in the almost destroyed piece of land
Mother’s fatigue is set afire.
On a day when we felt that all gods have abandoned us
Mother remained in hunger with nothing to eat
In front of goddess Parasakthii the provider of each one’s piece of land.
Oh, why have goddess Parasakthi abandoned this piece of land
Lying on the river-bank?
Mother has given her word not to let know
anyone any of the tortures during her stay in the camp.
the birds of these river-bank
celebrate our homecoming
on a day when the river swelled and flooded
Mother had her overflowing in her palms.
Dragging me off and offering me its roots as hands
The river enabled me to climb ashore safely
In the closed down river-bank
The destroyed banks are not to be seen.
Beloved Mother’s blood shed for the Evergreen Dream
is all over the shores; wide-spread
in the ‘Noovel’ tree that has lost its branches
how can my sister tie the swing and play?
In the benign smile of my Mother, fondly caressing its ‘still alive’ roots
The tree pours down its shade transcending Time.
The children who used to collect the fruits fallen down,
crowding under the tree
are sadly missing.
Mother who searches for the walls
takes out the time-worn visas.
Elder brother’s image has long since ceased to be.
standing alive and erect yet
The Marudhaani tree and several ‘Poovarasu’ trees.
A Marudha tree stands there with its half shade intact.
Upon the traces of ashes a new tent has been erected.
The way Mither believes that sky’s wound
Would soon turn to be mere scar
So my little sister believes that our home would
grow once again
Once again songs sprout in the low-land.
With the watery regions and boundaries of dreams turning into nought
The thrown away palm-seeds have burst into nothing.
Our smiles keep calling back all those birds migrated from
The river-bank.
__________________________
09.05.2010, Rathinapuram, Kilinochi.
the birds of these river-bank
celebrate our homecoming
on a day when the river swelled and flooded
Mother had her overflowing in her palms.
Dragging me off and offering me its roots as hands
The river enabled me to climb ashore safely
In the closed down river-bank
The destroyed banks are not to be seen.
Beloved Mother’s blood shed for the Evergreen Dream
is all over the shores; wide-spread
in the ‘Noovel’ tree that has lost its branches
how can my sister tie the swing and play?
In the benign smile of my Mother, fondly caressing its ‘still alive’ roots
The tree pours down its shade transcending Time.
The children who used to collect the fruits fallen down,
crowding under the tree
are sadly missing.
Mother who searches for the walls
takes out the time-worn visas.
Elder brother’s image has long since ceased to be.
standing alive and erect yet
The Marudhaani tree and several ‘Poovarasu’ trees.
A Marudha tree stands there with its half shade intact.
Upon the traces of ashes a new tent has been erected.
The way Mither believes that sky’s wound
Would soon turn to be mere scar
So my little sister believes that our home would
grow once again
Once again songs sprout in the low-land.
With the watery regions and boundaries of dreams turning into nought
The thrown away palm-seeds have burst into nothing.
Our smiles keep calling back all those birds migrated from
The river-bank.
__________________________
09.05.2010, Rathinapuram, Kilinochi.
“My mother and younger sister were taken to the detention camp at the close of the Eelam war, on the 16th of May, last year. After completing the course of punishments for their alleged involvement in the war which was effected after almost one year they have returned to their piece of land on the 9th of May 2010.
Image: My tent in the low-land region of Rathinapuri it was built in September , seeking shelter from heavy rains..
No comments:
Post a Comment