SRIDEVI

SRIDEVI

LIFE

Unknown beginning, unknown end,

The path of life looms long and large

Half way our companions join us / half way,

Half way and leave us (half way) too,

We break down, our task fragmented,

Too difficult to accomplish ..

In this drama of life

Who can afford to stumble

(Instead), let the scenes flow in harmony

Celebrate them as a festival.

Though the refrains are trite

Sing them in perfect time and tempo

Though the actor unpaid

and the role unsuitable

impossible it seems to quit

before the curtain falls

O two syllabled life !

Imagination painting your meaning

But in the three worlds,

No man can dictate the script

Past, present, future

All unroll as ordained by God

Though we tire of changing costumes

Though the dresses unfitting

Unseemly it is to discard them dress

As the gift is from god himself

Only when the dance is done

Is it time to empty the stage

To step out of costume (and scene)

In this pointless life

Why such hustle and bustle

Why such venom and hatred

Why such murder and strife

Why ?

(Translated by Indira Punnoose)

PAIN

The sun of inspiration sets afar

Darkness fills my heart

My flight of fancy

Like birds, fly off

In search of a brilliant future

Not even a feather left behind

But agony blooms into a flower

As scentless as my painful life …!

(Translated by Indira Punnoose)

RED ROSE

She smiled at me

She smiled with a new bloom

I watered her

Cared and nurtured her

Who gave her this much fragrance and scent

The flower conjuring up the whole beauty of the Spring

Who gave this much elegance to the petals

Who gave her this much beauty, lustre and grace

What made her the Queen of flowers

The dark red colour or the softness of splendour

Who has blessed her with the first kiss of love,

The sweet kiss of love

Breeze, bees, the sun, moon or the stars ..

Again she turned to me

And smiled ….

Did she ?

I, energized, immersed in household chores

A sudden wind

and the rose down there

Fallen to the ground weeping

my dear beauty queen

might have woven many a dream

in the dawn and dusk, night and day

No, it is not the wind

But the unkind human hand

Am sure it is not fallen

But made to fall, unkindly

Which naughty hand made her fall

My silky red red beauty!

My beauty gasping for breath

Am shocked to see her dead

Not a flower

But only an illusion

Which made me feel my heart for the flower…!

(Translated By Prasanna Kumari)

SRIDEVI