Hari Ram Meena, "Untitled Epigrams - II" (poem translated from Hindi)
This poem was translated by Srishti Raj.
One
The spark of liquor
lit the furnace of anger.
For the first time, the worker found his voice:
"Those bastards will pay for every moment they stole."
Two
In a democracy, there's always room for the iron fist,
the hunger of greed, and the power of lies.
But the people's voice can never sway those forces.
Three
Over a dozen pamphlets circulated,
more announcements, again,
filling the hollow room with slogans.
But who really listens to the people?
Four
From the tip of a blade of grass
The ant descends to earth
Having seen the whole world.
Five
The flower bud said to her friend
'Don't bloom yet! The morning is cold
Even the sun is shivering.'
Six
Outside the wind is howling.
My friend, let's go for a walk -
We need to cool off.
Seven
Friend, we've argued and bickered enough -
I can't stomach any more.
Look at the fun those kids are having.
Eight
Brother, think of the future.
In the evening, wrap yourself in midday
and dream of the dawn.
Nine
It was the night of the New Moon, the loneliness of isolation
The one who embraced me
Would they be like me, too?