Immersion In Alphabet Poem by Ch J Satyananda Kumar

Telugu original: B Vijaya koteswara Rao
English Translation: Ch J Satyananda Kumar

(Akshramlo antarleenam)

Rendu aakrutula aalinganam kadu aksharam lO antharleenam
Akshraalanu hatthukontey anantha viswam parimalam
Aaswadistey prapanchamey sumadhura swapnam
Aksharalaku ankitamaitey pratee medhalO madanam
ManOnethramlO bandhisthey vikasisthundi vignaanam
Aksharamey kada ani alusu chEsteY avutundi Ayudham
Adi oka kramam, lekhanam, sahithi vinyasam
Aksharamoka achEtanam kaadu vEyi alochanala vasantham
Adi oka sisiram, nartincheY SitikaNTHam
Akshra rupam bhashaku bhavaniki madhye mArgam
Samata, mamata, manavatala samapaatham
Aksharam haddulu leni prapancha jeeva jAthula samparkam
Adileni jagam, sUnyam jAti nistEjam, nirjeevam
Aksharam neekoka varamaitey samastha prapancham pAdAkrAntham
AndukeY aksharamlO kAvAli andarU antharleenam.

English translation:

To be engrossed in a letter is not the embrace of two figures
If the letters are cuddled, it is the unending universal fragrance
If relished, the world would be a sweet dream.
If devoted to letters, cogitation in every mind
If captured in nous occulus*, Blossoms erudition
If it is disregarded as a mere letter, it becomes a weapon
It is an order, an edict, a literary acrobat
Letter is not comatose; it is a spring of thousand thoughts
It is a winter, a Terpsichorean** peacock
The shape of a letter bridges the mind and lingo
Confluence of liberty, affection, and humanity
Letter is the convergence of boundless universal nations
The world sans it is a void, human race, powerless and lifeless
If letter is a boon to you, the entire world is at your feet
That’s why in a letter, every one should immerse and absorb

*mind’s eye ** dancing peacock

(B Vijaya Koteswara Rao is a journalist, poet, author and a human rights activist. He had worked with Telugu dailies Udayam, Andhra Prabha, Vishalandhra and Vaartha. Presently he is holding the responsibilities as Associate Editor of Telugu-English Bilingual Educational, Political and literary monthly magazine “Priyadarshini’ being published from Visakhapatnam. He is a close friend and well wisher of the translator also)