poems by I. Ulaganathan / Singapore / TENGGARA

 TENGGARA
Dept. of English -Univ. of Malaya
Kuala Lumpur/ Malaysia

                                    poems by I.Ulaganathan (Singapore)

                                               The Rubbish Bin
   
                                                 TRANSLATED FROM THE TAMIL BY RAMA SUBBLAH

                              Come and listen to the story
                                      of the rubbish bin which rules every place ...
                              in the country, in the town, in the street 
                                      and in the houses 
                              where civilized human being live.

                             "Used leaves. waste paper, broken bones, 
                                     All the remarks left over by the
                              damned fowls, goats nad the humans --- 
                              We accept all there  and our work is to prevent disaese.
                              The humans eat until their eyes and noses                                                                                 bulge out and 
                                      stink 
                              When they come near us  --- 
                                      we who stop the evil smell from spreading ---  
                              they close their eyes and hold their noses !
                      
                              We do great service 
                              by keeping all the rubbish within us
                              for humanity to live and to promote their health .
  
                              Those who see us --- 
                                      Why do they move away from us 
                                      And push us aside? 
                               Is this gratitude?

                               Can youth vanish, when the beauty mark on the forehead
                                      and the flowers are gone ! * 
                               Can one's senses be destroyed
                                     by giving advice ?
                               All the children born, out of the burning hunger, 
                               to the narrow waisted women, 
                               are here.

                               I am the one who helps to hide 
                               The child from the eyes of this world ---
                               The child of the young widow
                               Who breaks society' s rules
                               and brings the child forth .

                               When the pleasure found in the bed, 
                                      in time shapes into a child, 
                               it is customary to rock  the baby in the cot.

                               O misery, they throw the child in rubbish bin.

                               Compare my deeds with those of 
                               the social worker who works for the welfare of others. 
                               He is a rubbish bin because of his great love 
                               I am a great social worker because of my noble deeds. " 

                     -----
                      * When a woman becomes  a widow, she is not allowed to wear the beauty
                          mark on her forehead. or flower in her hair.  She is also not permitted
                          to wear any jewellery or fine clothes .


                                         Request and Reply

                               If you say
                               "There is no home, no land 
                               no fields, no harvest,
                               There is no salvation."
        
                               They will say sarcastically
                               " You have hands.  There is a begging bowl,
                               and there are towns. 
                               What other trouble do you have? 
                               Run away."
               
                               and leave you to beg.

                               If you ask a way to remove the weed 
                               They will be the guide to remove the crop itself.

                               If you say
                               "There is no hometown, no relations, 
                               no feelings, no greatness. 
                               There is no rice, no happiness."
        
                               They will say 
                               "To live you have a heart
                               In death there is eternity 
                               There is poison, or walk to the well!"

                               They will push you aside to die.

                                If you ask for a way to start
                               They will be the guide to the end itself.

                                If you say 
                                "There is no life, no wealth, 
                                no strength, ni prosperity,
                                The troubles around us are numerous  
                                there is no comfort, no health."

                                They will reply
                                "You have the tree and the rope.
                                There is comfort in death 
                                So what other misery can they be?
                                Don't talk, go away.
                                "These people without any qualms will tell you to die.

                                If you ask for a way to live here 
                                They will show you the way to die.

                                 When sou say
                                "Beauty mark and flowers are denied.
                                There is no silk, jewellery, 
                                 and no one shows love."

                                 They will answer 
                                 "You have youth and beauty
                                 Why are sad then ? 
                                 There re people to hold you close in their arms,
                                 forget your money and enjoy life."

                                 They will ask you turn prostitute.

                                 If you ask for a way to wear flowers * 
                                 They will find means to buy your hair. **

                                 If you say
                                 "Tamils have no education.
                                 They have no live in them. 
                                 There is no help for those with initiative 
                                 and Tamils have no guts."

                                They will say
                                "There is food, you have a stomach.
                                You can sleep, dream in yours.
                                What other worries do you have? 
                                Eat well and sleep on ."

                                They will eat the remains of Time.

                                 When asked for a way for bettering oneself 
                                 They will ask the price for life itself.

                                 When you say 
                                 "There is no greatness for Tamils
                                 no unity 
                                 and there is no way to change these."

                                 Out of them love for sole leadership, they say
                                 "There are platforms to talk,
                                 There is greatness in presiding.
                                 There is the garland and here is the neck. 
                                 Why do you need any unity?"

                                 If you ask for a way to protect your head 
                                 They will be the guide to remove your head.

                           -----
                            *  To wear flowers --- to start life anew, perhaps by re-marrying.
                                  **  To buy your hair --- to shame you .

                                      I. ULAGANATHAN
                                        has written play, srories, articles nad poems.
                                        'Cantanas Kinnam' is his first book of collectd poems.  TENGGARA



                                                      < TENGGARA/ APRIL 1968- p. 34. 37>