When will Wounds Heal ? Rajasthani Poem of Rajendra Joshi; Translated by Rajni Chhabra

WHEN WILL WOUNDS HEAL?

 In the month of June

Dark shadow of contractor

Imparted feeling of months of rain

Sips mineral water 

Sitting in courtyard

Still his thirst

Is not quenched.

It occurs to me 

That it is not water

It is blood of seven years old Sattu.

Sips blood smilingly

But now, no blood is left

In body of Sattu

Contractor has already

Consumed whole of it

Right from dawn till dusk

Continually for forty years.

Since last forty years

Blood of my family is

Running in veins of 

Government and its contractors

This same blood has

Become his strength

The hot blood

That is running 

In their blood.

Government does not

 Peep into wounds of my heart

That have turned fresh again

Have not become old

I can't show

These wounds

Before sunset.

After sunset

Wounds mutually 

Love wounds

They ask one another

What is age of you.

I don't know

When will 

These wounds heal.

 

 Rajasthani Poem of Rajendra Joshi; Translated by Rajni Chhabra