Last Cry … Arudra
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Sir! Mr Death Sir!
Pray mercy! I am many-childed.
True, I am in arrears of rent
From the very beginning to this rented-in life.
Sir! Mr Death Sir!
Please paint the walls of desires white… for the festival
Youth’s backyard wall is so dilapidated,
Kindly get it repaired, at least this year.
Let me assure you that I won’t smear the walls
With mucks of sex. It’s a promise!
From the kitchen of dreary daily routine
Want drips…please take note of it.
Permit me to collect in vessels of sleep
The strain of contentment gliding down the awning of dreams.
Sir! Mr Death Sir!
Please get the tiled-roof re-laid anew
Prices of ideals are sky-rocketing,
Sir! Kindly reduce the rent.
Pray, direct the other tenants
To put designs of altruism in front of their homes.
Kindly see that the well is deepened.
Alternatively, get it desilted.
You don’t have to worry
I don’t jump into it to commit suicide.
Don’t fling the boxes of memories
And mattresses of experiences onto the street,
Sir! Sir! Sir!
We shall settle the accounts in the coming life,
Spare me for the present.
Sir! Mr. Death Sir!
Many-childed that I am, please be mercifully merciful!
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Arudra.
(Bhagavatula Sadasiva Sankara Sastry)
(31 August 1925 – 4 June 1998)
Arudra was one of the leading poets, cine-lyricist, playwright, short story writer and translator in Telugu in the last century. He even wrote a book on Chess. He is famously remembered for his book of poetry Tvamevaaham Koonalamma Padaalu, and his singular contribution to Telugu Literary History Samagra Andhra Sahityam in several volumes, a great monumental research work that should normally be undertaken by Sahitya Academies, Government bodies or Universities.
In the above poem he brings in new imagery, first of its kind in Telugu poetry, to present contemporary problems of a middle class family.
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