War a hearts ravage-12
English Translation: P. Jayalakshmi & Bhargavi Rao
Telugu Original : “Yuddham oka Gunde Kotha” by Seela Subhadra Devi
Sky touching flame trees,
infrequent fiery festoons’ sudden opening,
petal showering spatter of sparks,
mien-shaking yawn of forest king,
limb-stretching brutality, and
burst of splitting sliding silence.
Climbing forest creepers,
wondering watch monkey crowds,
without having lit how rage the forest fires!
Amazed,
seeing twin-tongued mirthful play
serpents draw in tongues.
Blindly following path of those ahead
animal life, harmless dumb, yield to death.
Heavy, incapable of movement
great physiques, are consumed wholly by fire;
immigrant birds,
flying selfishly away
look hard for safe havens;
weaklings, hoping to act
when harm approached
satiate their hungers slow;
terrifying pythons lying in wait–brute beasts
kill life coming their way seeking shelter,
consume mouthfuls greedily
not ever thinking if they could digest.
Confused and confounded crowds
moving heltered and skeltered,
whichever direction,
scenes of deserts too ablaze!
Monstrosity as molten fire
burning down populous cities,
on all sides suffocation;
envelop of odorous death smell.
Heart, as a paraiah, alienation-afflicted;
humanity confused which way to choose
seek and search for a secure home.
Having reached the place, at last
breathes free, sheltered in mother’s breast.
Whence peace?
Once before this digestive fire
gratified itself with Khandav fire alone.
How calm this wild fire?
How many lives held in hand
sacrificed to holy fire?
How many mothers have to bear wombs’ pang?
How many children deserting maternal laps
have to fall as wilted way side flowers?
How many maiden dreams to collapse as castles in air?
How many more, youthful zeal misled
become holy firewood in war sacrifice?
How many youth turn Siddharthas
a researcher of death!
When … when will this fiery blaze cool down?
How many more nations
to sacrifice to this fierce fiery thirst?
*****
(To be continued-)
జన్మస్థలం విజయనగరం.రచయిత,కవి, చిత్ర కారుడు ఐనా శీలా వీర్రాజు గారి తో వివాహానంతరం హైదరాబాద్ లో నివాసం.1970 లో కథారచన తో సాహిత్య రంగంలో అడుగు పెట్టి తొమ్మిది కవితా సంపుటాలు, మూడు కథా సంపుటాలు,ఒక నవలిక వెలువరించారు. వంద మంది కవయిత్రుల కవితల సంకలనం ” ముద్ర” కు డా.పి.భార్గవీరావు తో కలిసి సహసంపాదకత్వం వహించారు.ప్రధానోపాధ్యాయినిగా పదవీవిరమణ చేసారు.