Saturday, August 15, 2009

POEM OF LATE MURUGAIAN IN TRANSLATION BY S. SIVASEKARAM


Layer of Rock

by
R Murugaiyan

All art is for the joy of people!
If dreams shall make us happy
We are willing to pay to dream.
It’s no wonder.
The sculptor who makes a sculpture
Accumulates within stone all his dreams.
The moviemaker presents his dream
In actions, scenes, words and song.
The theatre artist displays his dream
By acting, speech and dance
To make wonder within the confines of stage.
We watch and praise.
We praise his skill of expressing
A fine idea so very subtly –
Wondering at the novelty emerging out of
Gestures, body movement, looks
And the sound of anklets.
We are amazed how one could
Demonstrate such a wonder.
Our words and feelings melt
To blend into the thought of
How such an incomparable idea
Comes to one’s mind and found expression.
Imagination should have at its base –
Reality – the layer of rock.
We should realise that too.
1969