OH MAN!
ISMAIL
oh man!
behold the falcon
flying aloft in the sky
it knows no frontiers
sits in no self-drawn circle
rotates the globe
on the tip of its beak
its ideal the fiery eye that glances
perspicaciously and piercingly
oh man!
look at the tree
that’s taught flight to the birdies
in what language does it blossom?
lovers’ arms entwining
at twilight in the shade of prop roots
in what language do
they caress each other?
oh man!
behold bits of sky and birdies
shining in paddy fields
tints of joy
in fields of
everywhere
aren’t they alike?
oh man!
in any language salt
is saltish
Translated from Telugu by M.V. Chalapathi Rao