Friday, November 27, 2020

AT TARNAKA CROSSROADS - Translation of TARNAKADA CHOWKA ತಾರನಾಕದ ಚೌಕ

 At Tarnaka Crossroads

 (from Avadha 1986)

We cannot count stars

standing at Tarnaka Crossroads.

On one side we have

Moula Ali gutta;

On the other,

Yadagiri gutta.

To choose between these two,

is really difficult. 

 

Come in, sit down,

have a drink,

bite into mirchi bajjis,

resolve this dilemma

this, another, way,

calls out the toddy shop to us.

 

Here, it is darkness at noon.

Instead of stars

we have dim bulbs

twinkling weakly.

Easy to count.

 

But why tears

in your eyes?

Is it because of the fiery mirchi?  Or

is it because of our still

unexpressed final decision?

 §


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