Saturday, April 17, 2021

MONDAY'S CART - Translation of SOMAVAARADA GAADI ಸೋಮವಾರದ ಗಾಡಿ

Monday’s Cart


(from Avadha 1986)

 

See, how it’s trundling along,

this Monday’s cart.

Moving through each lane,

lane by lane,

crushing tar and gravel,

leaving crooked wheel marks.

A huge crushing wheel

leaving behind a long furrow. 

 

Eyes are many, but only 

words hang on to words

forming a bridge.

There a stream, here a stream

below is a crocodile mouth ajar.

In case of a breach

all goods would go under.

Belief in god

is the ultimate reason or rhyme.

 

Quli Qutub Shah’s ghazal 

cannot be sung during daytime.

When the bakula flowers sprinkle

on the minar

in the evenings,

it’s time for Bhagyamati to dance.

She, the eternal maiden of the poets,

standing on ancient graves and

appearing in our dreams.

Of all the forms and metaphors

why did you like the one you liked?

Or else, would you prefer to buy the

language in its bare form?

What would you do after buying it?  

How many of these words are actually correct?

Would the same weekday come again

after it’s already arrived once?


                                             § 


BANDICHORATE - Translation of BANDICHORATE ಬಂಡಿಚೋರಟೆ

Bandichorate*


(from Mukhamukhi 1978)

 

As I watch the local train, going

from Secunderabad to Falaknuma, slithering 

slowly on the far away bridge on the Musi river,

what I am reminded of sometimes is – 

 

the thousand-legged bandichorate-s

that are seen in the rainy season in

the betelnut groves in my village;

how they curl around curves,

how they spot straight lines,

how they unravel parallel lines – 

 

§

 

*‘Bandichorate’ is a ‘millipede’ ... I have retained the original Kannada name for my English translation ... ‘millipede’ is also called ‘cherante’ and ‘savirakalu’ (and many other names possibly) in other parts of the Kannada speaking areas ... thank you Prof. Shivarama Padikkal for helping me in sorting out the name ...