War a hearts ravage-13
English Translation: P. Jayalakshmi & Bhargavi Rao
Telugu Original : “Yuddham oka Gunde Kotha” by Seela Subhadra Devi
Mothers!
Weave our sorrow, our anger, our nobility
into three stranded weave–
confluence of a river;
come change its course in our direction!
At least then, quickened fires quaffed, will calm.
Lay out sorrow’d hearts on consecrated fire pits
allow holy fire to burn within itself,
flames burning, burning element itself.
Controlling pressure of heart’s burn
to a long expiration
exhaling, blow to go aflame.
Burning in a moment’s frenzy, is no doubt easy.
O frenzied blaze of battle!
We are mothers!
Withstanding radiation affecting us
applying cool balm, we soothe and comfort
our aim, only to alleviate pain!
***
Violence and counter violence
hatred and vengeance,
those shaking with enmity
how savour mother’s love?
Mouth smelling of war, rotten and ulcerous
how wash down innocent children’s prattle?
Heady mix of moves and counter moves
grown into long tresses,
how can wife’s affectionate balm of love
work to bring down burden of life?
How can they sleep until
babble of war fever
is heard through the world?
Till democracy is sacrificed to war’s wicked forces
for wicked strength, to become a despot,
as a terrible hood of shade
pervade whole atmosphere,
till quaff your thirst
with blood of dove of peace
ambling somewhere,
where is respite till strength of Ananda,
knowledge understood or known
are pounded to powdery dust?
Worshippers of malign powers….
maddened and possessed of war
how bring awakening in them?
Mothers!
You at least think!
Without plaguing us,
taking them into your embrace
amicably cajoling
feeding spoonful thoughts on equality,
if you can make them
forget war games!
Mothers!
We bore them as babes.
Let us see they don’t turn blood thirsty
let not murderous conditions be re-created
let go golden future once again
cause mortal strikes to existence
pay mighty price for mighty ruins!
***
Now
nations tossed, are in tempestuous battles;
vortex of conflicts rolling up familial values.
Nations afflicted, war jaundiced
are readying weapons.
Now therapeutics are no use.
On one hand—
fumes of mass destructive weapons burn the eyes
on another –
with streaming wandering free, war worms
nations are pulsating.
Strength of mind or body not required of nations, now.
Urgent need is of healing balm of fellow feeling.
*****
(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.