The Cradle Swung by Air

                                    

                      

                                                             

              

                  Hearing the crying baby sound at night

                  Nature herself played the midwife’s part;

                 When the child opened the eyes

                 No fairies sang their ditties;

                 The owl and the gnat hooted and shrieked

                 In mutual competition;

                 The bat fluttered its wings

                 And none welcomed the new soul into this world;

                 None bounced with joy

                 And none felt what- more- I- lack

                None gave sweets

                None sang lullabies;

                None called the astrologer

                To predict the child’s future;

                None threw merry parties

                And gave a name in ceremonious show;

               None felt unbounded thrill

               And none touched the heaven’s frill;

               Lillies and jasmines bloomed in infant’s smiles;

              Yet none desired to gather or share

              The child was cradled in the same old crib

              The same in which his elder brother was swung.

              The child sucked milk from the bottle

              As his mother, too weak to suckle;

             The child grew thin as a stick;

             Alas! The future citizen of India!

             None covered him with warm clothes

             When he shivered in dark night cold

             None shielded him from burning heat.

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           Telugu Original

          (The Cradle swung by air.. (A Surya Prakash.)

           Translated by:

           Somaseshu Gutala):           21st December, 2024)