Dear friends ... this translation pretty much happened in the same manner as happens in the poem. I read the poem multiple times ... the poem became the bull ... I felt challenged ... I had to translate it, tame it. This is, no doubt, a compelling poem of profound irony; and Kamalakar creates a perfect setting and two strong protagonists. And, of course, you can see what happens ... here it is, then, THE BULL AND I
Kannada original: NAANU HAAGOO HO:RI ನಾನು ಹಾಗೂ ಹೋರಿ
Poet: Kamalakar Bhat Kadave
English translation: S. Jayasrinivasa Rao
THE BULL AND I
The big-balled bull and I
are accidentally thrown together
on this grassland.
The bull is inexpressibly surprised
seeing this book, the symbol of
my profession, that I was carrying.
It snorted in derision.
Its long shiny horns
were sharp and stout.
Its body, covered in golden hair.
But its eyes were fear-inducing white orbs.
Its nostrils were rimmed with dew-like beads of sweat.
In response, I screeched a whistle.
In front of me on the grassy slope
rows of trees with flowers
black and red like seething fury.
The bull seemed to signal something with its huge hooves.
I straightened my clothes and checked the force of my pride.
I climbed on to the boulder towards the north,
sat and raised my eyebrows.
The bull guffawed, said ‘bugger you,’
and turned its arse towards me.
Which law in this world states
only the bull should win here?
Its horns are huge, its hooves are hard, its balls are heavy.
I am no less. profound scholarship, quick-witted,
grammar pandit. You see this huge boulder
of white quartz, on this field towards the north,
right at the centre? So, if the bull wants to trounce me,
let it climb on to this boulder,
introduce itself, and begin the fight.
Till then, the whirring hat twirling on my forefinger,
I am the master of this universe.
*****
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