Ode to a Pen

Never, never leave your hold
of my hand, even if others do.
This might, sound like an order cold,
but is truly a heart-felt request too.
Empires abort in the womb of time,
but the sway of your words has a sublime
spread and influence without which
none knows the ways of the power-witch.

A tear-drop from your lovely eyes
could create, sustain or destroy
and reverse the process over
centuries with Trinity’s awesome power.
In your imagination’s brilliant fire,
feelings, thoughts and emotions entire
turn out many delectable dishes
catering to varied tastes and wishes.
Riding on paper’s white horse
and viewing the blue sky’s race-course,
you wager a deep dip into the heart
and turn out prize-pictures that outsmart.

The ether-blossoms you conjure up
Sprinkle scents at every step.
And everywhere the people smell
a fresh fragrance that none can quell.
A drop of ink in your able hand
has power that atoms command;
one and the same is the force
that shapes or destroys the land
and creates the forms and the course
the devotees follow with your magic wand.

(A free translation into English by Dr. R. Rabindranath Menon from Dr. K. Muddanna’s original Kannada poem with the latter’s written approval.)