Dr P. Sivaramam Krishna

Moonlight Of Tears

[Translated from Telugu by Dr T. S. Chandra Mouli & B. B. Sarojini. Poem titled Asru Kowmudi  published in Andhra Boomi daily (Sunday supplement )dated  12-02-2006.]

Temple towers float on lake waters,
Green starry flowers
flicker on ripples like Kartika lamps….

Moonlight drips from leaves on coconut palm
like drops of nectar
trickling  from beloved’s lips---
moonlight of myriad  meanings shimmers like her smile---
everything is a fragmented memory of colorless spectacle .
Now, the sun, the moon, moonlight
are worthless coins---
worn out expressions that fail to suggest a meaning.

The moon in the veil of clouds is
like the mark of kiss planted
by mother earth on the forehead of
a muslim for offering prayers
five times a day
from Fazar to Isha---

From the banner of blue sky
dotted with red stars
dollar moonlight glides through
tender dreams;
convex moon is like a scarecrow
in unproductive soil.

For the man disbanding all seasonal connections,
unable to view terms of tears within ---
the sun is an antiquated  clock
on the solitary tower in the cross roads;
the moon is an  antiquated, useless fan
dangling   from  the sky canopy.

Now, the sun and moon
are two luminous discs of cloud
that follow one another.

Tell me, is the moon
a lonely, nameless traveler?
In the group that waxes and wanes---
is moonlight sun’s shadow?