Monday, January 11, 2021

THOSE WHO HAVE, THOSE WHO DON'T - Translation of IDDAVARU, ILLADAVARU ಇದ್ದವರು, ಇಲ್ಲದವರು

Those who have, those who don’t

(from Avadha 1986)

 

Those who have jobs, talk. 

They sign a lot of papers every day,

so they get tired very fast. 

A smooth shave every morning,

a season ticket in the front pocket,

a comb in the back pocket.

 

Those who don’t have jobs, are quiet. 

They stand in front of shops by the roadside. 

They look around aimlessly. 

These people who have grown their

hair abundantly look like extremists.

All are scared of them.

 

Who hasn’t walked down the Sultan Bazaar road

in the evenings?  Jostling each other, shoving past,

trailing behind, and turning their faces towards the

lights.

 

But, in spite of everything, you see, the season ticket 

and the comb that separate people from people …

That’s tough!

 §

No comments:

Post a Comment