Friend of Yore
- Deep from the Soul -
K. Radhakumar *
In this wonderful world
Blessed I am
With a wonderful life.
Soundly I slept in
Like a baby asleep and tucked away
In the sling carried by its mother.
Alas, I woke
To the sunset of life.
Like a star shining
In the evening sky,
I'd think I am all alone
And I see other people as strangers.
Even when I see my wife
I'd like to ask who this woman is!
Even when I look at my children
I'd think who they are!
So much as the flicker
Of the sun or the moon,
Shaded by the grey cloud, is seen
So much have I seen
The truth in disguise
I am but myself; they are but themselves.
The knot of the corporeal body has come loose
And I feel a strange sensation
Of souls meeting each other.
They are not new human beings
Who I have never met with.
When I look at them intently
The shadow of one
Whom I have seen before blur my eyes.
There is something which has not changed,
Which lies hidden inspite of change in appearance
And my soul seems to acknowledge this presence.
Translated from his late father's Manipuri poem
Thaina Tinnakhiba by K. Radhakumar. The first
stanza of this poem is also found in another poem
for which he gave no title.
* Poem written by K. Radhakumar which was published at Hueiyen Lanpao (English Edition)
This poem was webcasted on June 09 2013.
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