(An file Teileagúise Varavara Rao i bpríosún)
A India!
An mbíonn meangadh ar bhéal an bhandé Saraswati
Nuair a chuireann tú do chuid filí i bpríosún
Speabhraídí orthu, buailte ag an gCóivid,
Ina suí i lochán fuail?
A India!
An sásta atá Saraswati?
A Varavara Rao, seolaim chugat na briathra seo
Is mé ag súil go lonróidís
Ina ndeannach scaipthe
A mbéarfaidh ga gréine orthu –
A India! An ligeann tú do sholas na camhaoire
Teacht isteach ina chillín gan cuardach a dhéanamh air
Nó solas na gealaí
Nó na réaltaí i gcéin?
A India!
Éagann meangadh beannaitheach Saraswati
Ar a béal
LETTER TO INDIA
(On the imprisonment of Telugu-language poet Varavara Rao)
India!
Does the goddess Saraswati smile
When you imprison your poets
When, Covid-stricken, they hallucinate
Sitting in a puddle of urine?
India!
Is Saraswati pleased?
Varavara Rao, I send you these words
That they might glow
Like scattered motes of dust
Caught in fleeting sunshine –
Oh, India! Do you allow
The light of dawn to enter his cell without being searched
Or the light of the moon
Or distant stars?
India!
Saraswati’s beatific smile
Is fading on her lips.
