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 ...
No comments:
Post a Comment