The Mother

Kavisamraat
VISWANATHA SATYANARAYANA

Behind the bars with chained legs
stood I am; my looks rested
upon the edges of the nails of Thy feet.

O Mother! of Thy sharp looks,
thinking, impossible to withstand
with my head bent stood I am;
Or else, I can recollect­–
Thy face, may be, hill’s apex
for flowing compassion plenty.

Forgotten the misdeeds I have done,
Thine cold and compassionate lotus hands
When consoled my body­–
I am immersed unaware.

–Translated from Telugu by M. Prabhakara Rao