A poet's self-description

FOREWORD :

Ranging from Valmiki's Raamaayan to Homer's Trojan tales and from the AbhignaaShaakuntalam of Kaalidaas to Geethaanjali of Ravindranath Tagore, no literature survived a translation without suffering heavy casualities. The casualities will be much heavier when the translation is from a language with 18(now 16) vowels to a language with just 5 vowels - and that too when the translation is done by a first timer like me.



The original song is a crystal clear rock solid pure organic element. What I am presenting here is just a vaporized form of that element along with my own dose of oxidizing agents. When over-dosed, it might be suffocating like Carbon Dioxide. When under-dosed, it might be toxicating like Carbon Monoxide.

But the truth is...

This translation is no where close to the original crystal clear pure rock solid form of Carbon (popularly known as Diamond)


What I have is a universe sized family.

What I also have is a life which is lonely.


I'm drowning in the sea of attachments.

I'm also floating in the vacuum of detachments.


I become a wife and also her husband at the same time.

I become a poet and also his poem at the same time.


I have crossed the jasmine filled routes.

I have also crossed the snow filled deserts.


I have witnessed the fragrant waters of triumphs.

I have also witnessed the falling waters of tears.


It is myself whom I travel with.

It is myself whom I unite with.


I take no breaks when I am a loner.

There will be no breaks when I am a creator.


Dreams and dream-like stories are what I give birth to.

words and sword-like songs are what I give birth to.

colors and colorful rangolis are what I give birth to.

girl children and brain children are what I give birth to.


As the glowing Sun - I'm the eye in the sky.

As the burning fire - I'm the spark in that eye.


I'm better viewed as the lit grounds of moon.

I'm butter aid on the burnt wounds of pain.


I am the Sun and the Moon as well at the same time.

I am the day and the night as well at the same time.

 


It is myself whom I move with.

It is myself whom I relish with.


I am cherishing every minute sailed in the solitude.

I am conceiving every minute detail of the multitude.


Rays... racing with the deers of delight - is what I conceive.

Toes... tracing path to the source of the light - is what I believe.

Hopes... wrapping fast the magics of the past - is what I may leave.


What I have is a universe sized family.

What I also have is a life which is lonely.


I'm drowning in the sea of attachments.

I'm also floating in the vacuum of detachments.


What I have is a universe sized family.

What I also have is a life which is lonely.


ORIGINAL SOURCE:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76C2W45eE1A