Each war
Each boundary dispute
Multiplies human culture
By zero
It proclaims the helplessness
Of literature and spiritual thoughts
It answers the question why
Buddhists like Lao Tzu
Have forsaken the human world
And withdrawn into icy silence
There is no right or wrong side in War
There is no war like one for justice
Since war is the biggest injustice
The most harshest and cruellest move
Against the Universe itself!
(Ha…to the India of Buddha and the China of Lao-Tzu)
Written by V T Jayadevan on June 17th 2020. He is a poet who writes in Malayalam, based in Koyilandi near Calicut. A primary school teacher turned philosopher and farmer Jayadevan lives in his forest home, Solitude.
Translated by Anitha.S with the consent of the poet.
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Jayadevan’s poesy as always amazes, deeply touches and enriches me.
Thanks Anitha for trans-creating it in English. You have been true to
the original although some of the flavour and rhythm of Malayalam can
never be captured in English…In these times of many wars and
conflicts, can we hope and pray Lao Tzu and Buddha, Gandhi and Martin
Luther King will be heard and obeyed…