Thiruvempavai by Manickavasagar (9th century CE) and Thirupavai by Andal (7/8th century) are special hymns sung during the month of Markazhi (December-January). This year, our daughter chose to sing and record all the songs from Thiruvempavai. While she was preparing for singing, I drew inspiration from her and translated some of the songs. In these songs, […]
One of the fallouts of having a home-schooled daughter is that you get to do certain things you wouldn’t otherwise do. I have been revisiting some of the English classics along with her and relishing the experience. A recent addition was Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe. I now realize that Scott does not hold a very high […]
I am not the Buddha When I rest under the banyan With closed eyes, folded knees, ‘Look after carefully’ Sounded an owl Giving her little one to me And went on its way ‘Keep these with care’ Said the green parakeet, Thrusted some ripened fruits In my lap and left ‘Save this pearl necklace’ Ordered […]
Dust of Time Ubiquitous dust receiving erasing shape-shifting life’s footprints overcrowded never-ending yesterdays’ dust. Even distant snow mountain that turns to scorching stone on approach gives way to molten carcass of blood-red dust once crossed. I scooped up dirt and flung; It fell into my eyes irritating days reeking of minutes. Time and […]
Bittersweet You wouldn’t know how sweet it was back then to imagine and yearn when I couldn’t see or be with her. Attaining the unattainable privacy, pressing my lips to her ear I had once cooed the words Sweetie pie, upon which pretending to un-hear what she had just heard She turned and with a […]
The following poems are included in this collection: Color-Changing Rose One-Act Play The ‘Method’ to Kill Yet Another Definition of Art Nick Bottom Color-Changing Rose Color-changing rose he is Chameleon of the first order He’s not what he seems to be But almost always something else Master in the game of guise He masquerades with […]
1. Silence rustle like a disturbed serpent. Makes one wonder, Where is it’s poison hidden? I go an extra mile as Jesus implored To be bitten. I meditate and have visions of pure sound. Om. 2. To be dead is good when winter comes inside a warm coffin. Ice does not resist ice. […]
Translating the Tamil classic, Thirukkural, is a tricky task. Many translators have attempted to outdo Thiruvalluvar in brevity, and failed to match his depth and poetic grace. Some resort to elaboration, making it more of commentary than poetry, leaving very little space for interpretation and probably adding layers that are not explicit in the original, […]