K.STALIN KANNAN

 A POEM BY

K.STALIN KANNAN

Translated into English by Latha Ramakrishnan(*First Draft)

THOONGAA NAGARAM

THE CITY THAT SLEEPS NOT

:

The city moving towards sleep

sends out first the child labourers

with their ‘bata’ money for the day

Next

the aged security-men

taking turns and keeping vigil

at the restaurant-entrances

Then the small vendors

selling the remaining vegetables

at whatever rate possible

Finally after sending those bosses

pulling down the shutters forcefully,

lighting the camphor

and heading towards their abodes

with the cash-bags

Keeping those who have missed the last bus

and those to board the first bus

waiting

Keeping company to the poor father

who has left the ailing child inside

along with its mother

and chasing away with his hands

the mosquitoes biting

at the hospital gate _

The city that sleeps not

stays wide awake.