Saturday, September 24, 2016

Autumn's Debut (English Translation of శిశిరాగమనము)

Autumn's Debut

It’s coming, the Fall
Coming slowly without a stir
Still her brother isn’t ready
With flute, horn, and the brass
Nor is the caravan of colors ready
Yet
Poets like me
Have seen, nay observed
Your beauties, your enchanting grace
Your shy glances
Yesterday
While returning from the walk
Noticed two tiny silky feathers –
Have the migratory birds started already?
One red maple tree
Turned rouge all over
Won’t it? After all her lover has
Kissed, kissed underneath the blanket
Through the long chilly night
Come my darling
My Gandharva maiden
Blossomed in my sweet dreams
How lucky! What a fortune
No, I don’t feel bad
Missing the Blue Jay of Godavari
Yesterday
A Blue Bird cooed looking at me –
It was calling with a graceful crown
Calling his affectionate mate
“Ti, titi, titi”
Where have they all gone?
All our black, gray, and red
Bushy squirrels?
Now they’re munching on the walnuts
Screeching in between. I too teased
Them with my calls giving ‘em company
No, I did not see the Annapurna peak
Did not climb the Nanga-parbat
Did not fly to the Kailas
All the beauties and majestic graces
Came to me. Now for the coming Dussera
Mums, colorful chrysanthemums would be everywhere
Come, my nature maiden – I’ll decorate you
From head to toe, beckon your brother
The Northern Wind
Let him rise from the North Pole
I’ll pull out my Kashmir shawl
And the tufted woolen cap!
© 2016 t v rao


(The original Telugu poem was penned on September 15, 2016. September 22nd is the official start of autumn here.)

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