Cattle Poem by Kanishka SricharanPratap

Ploughed land
Planed field
Whirled to crush corn
Pushed oil-seed crusher
Pulled cart
Carried luggage,

Milk, curd, cheese and ghee,
Manure and dried dung...
Gave
As much as I could.

How disappeared the strength,
Age passed on!
Now
I am going to butcher's house,

How much paid the butcher!
Would not be paying more!
How can I say to pay?
I'm a cattle
Know not how to speak!

Forgive me... O' my Lord!
Blame me not!


Translated from Odia by
Subash Chandra Mohapatra