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}