Even just now
in the Pettah
there are crow eggs
in Jam, Bo and Kottamba trees
bursting
when the young come out
are crows with response ready
to questions they will surely ask?
Mother takes broom in beak
sets out at dawn
sweeps the roads
large compounds
and vast gardens
but however much she strives
strangely do the cruel leaves
descend on the morrow
tomorrow too
she'll take flight
'Mother, why can't we
just go somewhere
to a small garden
of our own?"
On Malwatte Street
Father sells necklaces and rings
stainless steel
thorn-cut wings
break off and fly
throughout the day
his soles swell come evening
as we watch
why can't we too
be like the golden oriole
like the blue-breasted dove?
Even just now
in the Pettah
there are crow eggs
in Jam, Bo and Kottamba trees
bursting
as for the questions they will ask
are parent-crows equipped
with ready response?
[translation of "කපුටන්ට කෝ උත්තර?" from the collection "මීළඟ මීවිත" (The next wine) by Ruwan Bandujeewa]
in the Pettah
there are crow eggs
in Jam, Bo and Kottamba trees
bursting
when the young come out
are crows with response ready
to questions they will surely ask?
Mother takes broom in beak
sets out at dawn
sweeps the roads
large compounds
and vast gardens
but however much she strives
strangely do the cruel leaves
descend on the morrow
tomorrow too
she'll take flight
'Mother, why can't we
just go somewhere
to a small garden
of our own?"
On Malwatte Street
Father sells necklaces and rings
stainless steel
thorn-cut wings
break off and fly
throughout the day
his soles swell come evening
as we watch
why can't we too
be like the golden oriole
like the blue-breasted dove?
Even just now
in the Pettah
there are crow eggs
in Jam, Bo and Kottamba trees
bursting
as for the questions they will ask
are parent-crows equipped
with ready response?
[translation of "කපුටන්ට කෝ උත්තර?" from the collection "මීළඟ මීවිත" (The next wine) by Ruwan Bandujeewa]
Super!
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