horizon

harikrishna is a still unrecognised tamil poet who was both instrumental and inspirational in my formative years. this is my first attempt in translating his work, though too delayeed....

this is a translation of  harikrishna's  thoduvaanam...i hope if my translation evokes half the feeling it did in tamil, i ll translate the rest of his poems

 

 

 

stopping halfway and resting them in kitchen sink,

the half washed dishes ,

she runs upto the terrace 

suddenly aware of the hasty rain

to get   the clothes off the line ..

 

she was ten then 

 

down  the stairs of that  house,

crookedly and violently stretching till the horizon,

 

now 

 she climbs down 

an active and nervous hag

Reviews

[.]

. dear V. ... it's very challenging to translate ... especially if we attempt a literal translation ... try a translation in spirit ... i think you'll hit bull's eye ... :) ...

[vivekanand]

ya , serah, when i read the original version, i felt that it was the flaw of the society that doesnt give the space.. it was an indictment of the males who usurp the freedom of women as i read it.. so the flaw has to be in the translation

[.]

. hmmm ... your language as always is precise and poetic ... but as far as the meaning of this piece is concerned ... i'm not sure it applies universally at all ... but i'll still try not to take it personally ... let's just say it was some woman who degenerated thus ... still ... the vibe i get is of a man who is sitting there and making judgmental observations ... and being disrespectful ... indian women have a really rough time in our society, dear V., and it's incredibly sad that they almost always have to do all the work ... even if they are working ... like in today's times in urban areas ... sometimes it makes them the hags that they become ...