By Srilakshmi Srinivasan
Mock me not, oh mind mine!
My feelings are true.
You are in me and belong to me,
So why this shaming and why this hunt?
You know my secrets, my sadness, and my weakness,
You know my dreams, my joy, and my strengths.
Then why? Why these obstacles? Why this doubt?
When all I want is to get up and move on.
Maybe, just maybe everyone has
Their own goals, path, and secret doors.
Maybe, just maybe they are not
The same as yours (mine) ours anymore.
Come along dear friend
Let’s move towards light,
Cutting through the dark tunnel
To scale new heights.
Srilakshmi is, in her own words, ‘A doctor passionate about Kannada literature who just happened to translate one poem for
you me.’ So it seems only appropriate that I include the original Kannada version of the poem. How I wish I could read it!