Last Night, In Rain Poem by Ch J Satyananda Kumar

(Translation of this poem ‘Ninna raatri varshamlo’ is from the 1971 Central Sahitya Academy award winning Telugu poetic compilation ‘Amrutam Kurisina Raatri’ (The night when nectar rained) of eminent Telugu poet and short story writer Devarakonda Bala Gangadhara Tilak (1921-1966) . His collection of short stories include Sundari-SubbaRavu, Vuri Chivara Illu and Tilak Kadhalu.)

Telugu original: Devarakonda Balagangadhara Tilak

Ninna raatri varshamlO tadisi nee gummam tattinappudu
Nidura kaLLato choosi jaaligaa navvi rammnnaavu
Naa kaLLaLLO tadisina cheekatla madhya chandra vanka virigi
Naa gundela nantukonna sharaayi meeda puppodi cherigi
NEnu siggupadi thalonchukoni nee kEsi choodakundaa
Gaba gabaa naa gadilOki veLLi talupesukunnaanu
Yekkadekkada okkaNNi tirigaanO raatri yEkaantamlO
Yenni deena nayanaalni yenni mouna niswaasaalni
YerukunnaanO chatukkuna naa sangeetam aagipOyi
Apoorvamaina sangeetaanni thecchi neeku kaanukagaa istaanani
Anantamaina naa prEma niroopistaanani pratigya chEsi
Aa raatri veLLi pOyaanu nEnu
Alaa nagaraalaki nagaraalu daati adavulni daati
Aakaasa nakshatraalanu meeti ananta digantaalu vetiki
Yekkadekkad choosinaa deena nayanaala praSnalu
Mouna niswaaSala pilupulu baavurumanE gundela yEdpulu
Baadhala salasala kaagE bratukulu.

English Translation: Ch J Satyananda Kumar

Drenched in night’s drizzle, last night I knocked your door
You looked at me with drowsy eyes, smiled piteously and asked me to come in
Crescent broke in the misty darkness in my eyes
Pollen withered on the flower dangling on my bosom
Bowed down my head in shame, I did not look at you
I went into my room in hasty rapidity and closed the doors
Where ever I wandered alone in night’s solitude
How many pathetic eyes, how many silent sighs I gathered
My music ended abruptly,
I longed to gift you a collection of marvelous melodies
Avowing to prove my inexhaustible love
I went away that night
Crossing cities and cities, crossing forests and woods
Tuning the stars of the sky, searching never-ending precincts of the universe
Here and there I wandered alone, in the night’s solitude
Where ever I glimpsed, the queries of pitiable eyes
Calls of silent moans, bewailing laments of hearts
Searing and scorching lives of suffering afflictions