Translation 1
Unless it breaks free and scoot
At least for a day,
it could be mistaken for a
total lack of
desire for freedom-
Aunt’s cow
Escaped from the coir noose
And ran away occasionally
just for that!
.
The cow in the front …
The aunt running behind
As if everything else on the way
Will be forked down!
And all give way …
.
‘Stop it please
Catch it please’
The aunt blares.
.
By the time you make it out
both would have whizzed past.
A scamper just for
two kilometers!
the cow’s liberaton requirement
is met!
.
The cow halts wheezing and panting.
‘Damn the cow!’
a blow strikes its back.
And then….
Both begin the journey back home
Lazily at their own pace
.
Onlookers
Sipping hot tea at
Achuettan’s
Tea stall
Roll the eyes in
Astonishment
at the gentle beings -
.
‘Are they the same as
those who stormed past
a while ago?’
.
It could be the
two kilometre
lap to freedom
that the cow for ever
seems to chew like cud
.
It might just be the fear
of being mistaken, as someone
who has absolutely no desire of freedom
that prompts my aunt’s cow
to break its tether and gallop to freedom,
every now and again.They’d run their race,
Aunt behind, the cow in front,
Threatening to uproot anything,
which came in their way.
By the time
my poor aunt’s screams, cries
and impassioned pleas for help
would register on our surprised ears,
There would be no trace of them.
After a spirited two-kilometer run,
the cow, sated with her freedom,
would stop running
and stand still, gasping,
catching its breath.
A scowl,
a cussword,
and a slap on the back later,
the cow and my poor aunt
would make their way home,
Slowly.
From the roadside teashop
bemused onlookers would wonder in dismay,
watching the serene twosome,
whether it was indeed the same pair
which had raced past them
just a little while ago.
Coming to think of it,
it might just be
this very gallop to freedom,
all of two little kilometers,
that the cow seems to chew and chew and chew
every time that I get to see her.
Translation: Rahul Kochuparambil
At least for a day,
it could be mistaken for a
total lack of
desire for freedom-
Aunt’s cow
Escaped from the coir noose
And ran away occasionally
just for that!
.
The cow in the front …
The aunt running behind
As if everything else on the way
Will be forked down!
And all give way …
.
‘Stop it please
Catch it please’
The aunt blares.
.
By the time you make it out
both would have whizzed past.
A scamper just for
two kilometers!
the cow’s liberaton requirement
is met!
.
The cow halts wheezing and panting.
‘Damn the cow!’
a blow strikes its back.
And then….
Both begin the journey back home
Lazily at their own pace
.
Onlookers
Sipping hot tea at
Achuettan’s
Tea stall
Roll the eyes in
Astonishment
at the gentle beings -
.
‘Are they the same as
those who stormed past
a while ago?’
.
It could be the
two kilometre
lap to freedom
that the cow for ever
seems to chew like cud
.
Translation: JAYASHREE THOTTEKKAT
-----------------------------------
Translation2
It might just be the fear
of being mistaken, as someone
who has absolutely no desire of freedom
that prompts my aunt’s cow
to break its tether and gallop to freedom,
every now and again.They’d run their race,
Aunt behind, the cow in front,
Threatening to uproot anything,
which came in their way.
By the time
my poor aunt’s screams, cries
and impassioned pleas for help
would register on our surprised ears,
There would be no trace of them.
After a spirited two-kilometer run,
the cow, sated with her freedom,
would stop running
and stand still, gasping,
catching its breath.
A scowl,
a cussword,
and a slap on the back later,
the cow and my poor aunt
would make their way home,
Slowly.
From the roadside teashop
bemused onlookers would wonder in dismay,
watching the serene twosome,
whether it was indeed the same pair
which had raced past them
just a little while ago.
Coming to think of it,
it might just be
this very gallop to freedom,
all of two little kilometers,
that the cow seems to chew and chew and chew
every time that I get to see her.
Translation: Rahul Kochuparambil
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