THE ‘SENKAANTHAL’ FLOWERS

A poem in Thamizh by Deepachelvan titled *SENKAANTHAL BLOSSOMS [செங்காந்தள் பூக்கள்] Translated into English by Latha Ramakrishnan

When the stones with Memory bloomed upon
were uprooted and broken
Our Land swayed.
With the Land burnt
the tombs were smashed.
For those who had fought for a Life denied and
breathed their last
a resting place was refused.
Despite the mammoth Demon
entering into the Land and devovouring the roots
the trees which couldn’t be done away with
begin to sprout again.
In the corners of our dwellings
and at the lanes of our streets
over the cities
and in the villages
the fountain of light springs
In the Land where the Light is extinguished
lamps glow.
When the live trees were being felled
the mothers’ hearts were on fire.
Time keeps swirling.
In the Land sabotaged
the Senkaanthal blossoms have surfaced.