As I was reading out a poem
the audience was listening as I read
And as the audience was listening to me
I was reading the faces of the audience.
As I continued to read…
There came a moment – who knows why –
when a couple of them wrinkled their noses
And astonished, I said to the poet in me
"What's the reason for this?"
And he answered me,
"It was to be expected…
All that's happened is
the settled sludge has been stirred
and the water's grown cloudy."
As I was reading out a poem
the audience was listening as I read
And as the audience was listening to me
I was reading the faces of the audience
As I continued to read…
There came a moment when
a couple got up and left
But the eyelids of the others
seemed ready to shed rain
And, distressed, I said to the poet in me,
"Why is this happening?"
And he answered me,
"It's only natural
All that's happened is
the moisture pent up till today
is looking to break out."
As I was reading out a poem
the audience was listening as I read
And as the audience was listening to me
I wa reading the faces of the audience
As I continued to read…
There came a moment when
I saw embers flaring in the pupils of their eyes
And, frightened, I said to the poet in me,
"What's this that's happening?"
And he answered me,
"It was this I was waiting for
All that's happening is
the dynamite fuses, nearly burnt out,
are trying to falre up again."
As I was reading out a poem
the audience was listening as I read
And as the audience was listening to me
I was reading the faces of the audience
As I continued to read…
There came a moment when
I saw a dazzling brilliance in their eyes
And, curious, I said to the poet in me,
"Why is this happening?"
And he answered me,
"It's inevitable.
All tha's happening is
they're marching in battle
on this fearful darkness."
As I was reading out a poem
the audience was listening as I read
And as the audience was listening to me
I was reading the faces of the audience
Found that interesting Marathi poem by Damodar More (translated by Priya Adarkar) at Dr. Navras Jaat Aafreedi's Social Activism blog. Thanks Rahul Gautam Vardhan, for the tip.