Never had free time
Never remember until
Faced a cut throat emergency
The indigenous dirt
Acquired pest
Today, here, like this…
Safe guarding the empty walls
Of the ageing house
Looked at the roof
A crystal of salt flowed out
Felt the presence of the mother at
Every corner of the house
What ever she does
I am after her
Hanging from her shoulder
Reminds the memory of
Sleeping,
Holding her saree
On the bed of camping cot
Earned my livelihood and bread
With the support of her palm only
Always walked after the calendar
Making the four walls of the narrow house
As her world
She eats only
After feeding me
I never empathize with her hunger
Gave her medicines
At ring of the clock
But, never warned her
With concern
Whether she minds…
How long she felt
I don’t know, don’t observe
After a long time
She didn’t stretch her folded legs
Felt that she won’t go anywhere
As she is mother
Now, she laid on my shoulder
Disappeared as ash into the bank less stream…
Someone says
What happens to the tree..
If a ripen leaf falls
Is mother
A ripen leaf…?!
Also read: Blackness
Also read: Death certificate
Also read: Count it as…!
Telugu Original
Devenapalli Veena
Translation
Prof Sarojadevi Komatla
