நம் குரல்

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

பழகு


ஆயுள் நீளும் ரகசியம்
சிரிக்கப் பழகு

பிடித்துத் தள்ளும் தோல்வி
செரிக்கப் பழகு

உலுக்கி எடுக்கும் துரோகம்
சகிக்கப் பழகு

இடறச் செய்யும் தடைகள்
உடைக்கப் பழகு

எங்கும் மாறுவேடப் புருசர்கள்
நடிக்கப் பழகு

கோபம் தூண்டும் சொற்கள்
அடக்கப் பழகு

அன்பைத் தேடும் இதயம்
அணைக்கப் பழகு

உன்னைப் பிணிக்கும் புன்மை
புதைக்கப் பழகு

எங்கும் முளைக்கும் சவால்
போராடப் பழகு

நீளும் ஏழைக் கைகள்
கொடுக்கப் பழகு

வழியில் தடுக்கும் எருமை
கடக்கப் பழகு

சுற்றிச் சந்தை இரைச்சல்
தனிமைக்குப் பழகு

உன்னில் விழிக்கும் மிருகம்
அடக்கப் பழகு

அவிழும் இயற்கை அழகு
ரசிக்கப் பழகு

இனத்தின் ஈனச் செயல்கள்
முடிக்கப் பழகு

காடு மண்டும் தளைகள்
அறுக்கப் பழகு

காதில் ஈயச் சொற்கள்
பொறுக்கப் பழகு

பொதுமையில் மறையும் தமிழன்
தமிழனாகப் பழகு

மனிதன் திறந்த புத்தகம்
படிக்கப் பழகு

உன்னை மிதிக்கக் கால்கள்
பொங்கப் பழகு

Monday, August 2, 2010

A Dream Destroyed


what is destroyed:
a fragment of a beautiful dream
and a little ignorance

on this battleground
there is no tomorrow for
the trees that beautify
its earth

what more
for lifeless monuments and statues

not a trace
of the great warrior

nothing left but to wait for their demolition,
one by one

in every corner
the proud stand with serious
meaningful stares

hopefully everyone's prayers
are answered

he has toyed with us
and taught us a lesson

perhaps they were built
because
the writing on monuments
will never disappear

the hidden message
behind all this destruction:

look, all you people
who want to build monuments
for living or the dead

what is in the heart is not certain to be respected
what more monuments without life!

N. Patchaibalan

(Translated into Malay by Dr.Gana)
(Translated into English by Tanja Jonid)

Voices of Malaysian Poets - An Athology of Malaysian Poetry
Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Kuala Lumpur, 2009

Like our Fatherland


My Love!
like our fatherland
our love is free and unrestrained
to embrace boundless happiness

your face lit up
when the glorious stripes
were raised
and the flag of the colonizers lowered

when you changed your mind
and gave into my love
it was like rain
moistening the parched earth

at times we dont see eye to eye
but in our hearts we meet
beautiful emotions flow like raging river
to cool us down!

the heart is a pool
whose waters are muddied
when the rocks of separation are thrown

but we ourselves
have thrown them...
these rocks of emotions, into our pool of love
the soul is stirred

the country develops, productivity grows
through the sweat of its people

I too am like that
your face is always on my mind
therefore... I sing praises to you

we are the model
for all nations of the world
the unity of three races
is proof

likewise
our pure love
stands as an example for all lovers

the people are proud
of their leaders that care for the people
and lead the way to goodness

our love is proud
not because of a Taj Mahal
standing haughtily
but because our two hearts are always one
as long as they are alive

my love!
like our fatherland
our love is free and unrestrained
to embrace boundles happiness

come!
together, let us raise our flag and celebrate!

N. Patchaibalan

(Translated into Malay by Dr.Gana)
(Translated into English by Tanja Jonid)

Voices of Malaysian Poets - An Anthology of Malaysian Poetry
Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Kuala Lumpur, 2009

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Flowers of the Battlefield



here lies
a fallen, wilted
flower

this is not
a flower from the garden
of full blooms
but from the bloody fields of destruction

the iron birds that fly
in the sky have sucked
all pleasure out
now they perch on the blooming petals like thunder

it is still moist
but the story of its life has ended
in the cemetery

no longer can sweet songs
from red parted lips can heard
all the cradle
only the wails of sadness

all treaties
signed
are meaningless now

round-table talks
are tropies of victory
neatly arranged
for all to see
for show

the right hand is extended
to say goodbye

the left hand clutches
impressive weapons

the blooming sounds
of violence blast
the eardrums

in the garden of peace
a parade of breezes
carries the stench
of caked blood
to the nose

people who have not
one dram of mercy
End it!

"do we want to honour
the medal of victory
with the dying
of flowers that
have fallen without blossoming?"

N.Patchaibalan

(Translated into Malay by Dr.Gana)
(Translated into English by Tanja Jonid)

Voices of Malaysian Poets - An Anthology of Malaysian Poetry
Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Kuala Lumpur, 2009