THE BIRDS OF CHOKKADI - SUBRAYA CHOKKADY'S 'CHOKKADIYA HAKKIGALU' ಚೊಕ್ಕಾಡಿಯ ಹಕ್ಕಿಗಳು

Kannada original: ಚೊಕ್ಕಾಡಿಯ ಹಕ್ಕಿಗಳು  Chokkadiya Hakkigalu 

Poet: SUBRAYA CHOKKADY

Translated into English by: S. Jayasrinivasa Rao

 

THE BIRDS OF CHOKKADI

 

As in all other places,

if I say, Chokkadi too has birds,

what has actually been said?

 

As in all other places, here too

birds lay eggs, hatch chicks,

spread their wings and soar in the sky, 

they chirp and so on; these things, as I am 

aware of, you too know.  Despite this,

 

there is something special here.  I mean, 

in this town; in the unique be-ing 

of this town’s trees, plants, hills, and fields.

If birds fly amidst all these,

If birds etch silver lines on the scraggly sky,

If birds chirp their songs amid the cacophony 

of harsh human voices,

the unique tapestry that is woven thus, you see,

that even amongst these giants these birds fly carefree

and establish their existence – 

 

that, you see, that I feel

is especially applicable to Chokkadi alone.  

If you feel like, you too can come here

and see for yourselves,

and feel it.

 

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