pushpa vilaapam
karuNa Sree

#translation by Sri Kandregula Ambaprasada Rao (1995)#

pushpa vilaapam (1)
nE noka poolamokka kaDa nilci civaaluna kommavaMci gO
raaneDu naMtalOna viru lanniyu jaaliga nOLLu vippi "maa
praaNamu teetuvaa" yanucu baavuru mannavi; kruMgipOti; naa
maanasamaM dedO taLuku mannadi pushpavilaapa kaavyamai.



FLOWERS' LAMENT(1)
Standing at a flowering plant
Nimbly pulling a stalk aslant,
Ere I, to pluck, putforth my nail,
All flowers raised a piteous wail.
"Takest thou our life?" - Abashed
Was I Something then flashed
In my mind - a weird figment,
As a poem - "The Flowers' Lament".
pushpa vilaapam (1)
aayuvu galgu naalgu gaDiyal kani peMcina teevatalli jaa
teeyata diddi teertu mu; tadeeya karammulalOna svEcCamai
nooyala loogucun muriyucuMdumu; aayuvu deerinaMtanE
haayiga kannu moosedamu aayama callani kaali vrELLapai.



FLOWERS' LAMENT(1)
During our short span of Life we
	have embellished
The species of mother - creeper that
	bore and cherished -
Swinging in her arms with gay
	abandon, shut eyes
When end comes - happily fade away
	at her cool toes.
pushpa vilaapam (1)
gaalini gouraviMtumu sugaMdhamu poosi; samaaSrayiMcu bhRM
gaalaku viMdu cEsedamu kammani tEnelu; mimmu bOMTla nE
traalaku haayigoortumu; svataMtrula mammula svaardha buddhitO
taaLumu truMpa bOvakumu; talliki biDDaku vEru sEtuvE!



FLOWERS' LAMENT(1)
We smear perfume and welcome breeze,
Feast with tasty honey the visiting bees,
Cause comfort and joy to the eye
Of people like you - free tho' are we -
Tarry! pluck us not with selfish intent,
Would you tear the child from its parent!
pushpa vilaapam (1)
Ulu daaraalatO goMtu kuri bigiMci
guMDelO nuMDi soodulu grucci koorci
muDucu_koMduru muccaTa muDula mammu
akaTa! dayalEni vaaru mee yaaDuvaaru



FLOWERS' LAMENT(1)
Strangling us with wool and rings,
Piercing bosoms with needles and strings,
Adorn with us your braids fancy-
Alas! ye women are sans mercy.
pushpa vilaapam (1)
maa velalEni mugdha sukumaara sugaMdha maraMda maadhuree
jeevita mella meekayi tyajiMci kRSiMci naSiMcipOye; maa
youvana mella kollagoni aa payi ceepurutODa cimmi ma
mmaavala paarabOturu gadaa! narajaatiki neeti yunnadaa !



FLOWERS' LAMENT(1)
While our priceless and innocent,
Delicate, nectarean and fragrant
Life, for you is sacrificed and frayed
Withered and laid utterly destroyed -
Ravishing our youth, sweep with broom - Alas !
Is there morality among the Human Race ?
pushpa vilaapam (1)
buddha dEvuni bhoomilO puTTinaavu
sahaja magu prEma neelOna caccenEmi?
aMdamunu hatya cEseDi haMtakuMDa!
mailapaDipOye nOyi! nee manuja janma.



FLOWERS' LAMENT(1)
In the land of the Buddha thou art born
of innate love thou, perhaps, art shorn
Oh, murderer, who slayeth beauteous charm,
Defiled is thy birth in human form.
{A free rendering in English of Karunasree Jandhyala Papaih Sastry's Poem
"Pushpa Vilapam" by Sri Kandregula Amba Prasadarao. Mailed to Palana from 
Calcutta Garden Reach, 1-15-1995}