Last Breathe Poem by subbarao akkinapalli

LAST BREATHE

The stream gushed out running
Circling the mounds and
Rubbing against the hills ran the stream
Teeny-weeny leaves turned their eyes
And peered all around
I heard the song of the cuckoo sitting on the lap of a branch
The spring manifested in its myriad forms
The nature, by nature is beautiful all around
But your absence by my side is unnatural
Leaving bitterness the spring passed away
The summer is ferocious
Fumes rise from the black smith’s air tube
There’s no end to the thirst in the heat
I never got the chance to quench mine
I had waited until the dusk
Awaited till the night spread
I did not find you
You haven’t had mercy on me
Alas I could not have your darshan
I awaited your arrival for days
Haven’t found any way out
The summer of life had burnt into ashes
White leaves are falling down
The leaves have lost their color
Fallen leaves are being crushed
The mashed leaves are grieving
Humidity in the air has risen
The black sky came up
But you never came
No light has come yet into my life
The autumn rushed up and fell











Arrived the winter
The warmth of my body waned away
You came then stumbling
Looking around in fear and faltering
But I can’t stand up to reach you
I do not have the strength to embrace you
I dread to look at the sky outside
I don’t want the signs of death’s arrival
Shut the windows of the room completely
Stoke the fire by lofting the lazy burning logs
Push up the wick of the dimming lamp
See that the light is not totally gone
Hold me dear to your heart
Let me know its nobility
Let me see your face in this faint light
Let me know the depth of your affection
Let me caress the cheeks so far eluded me
Let me feel the lips
Remained beyond all through
I don’t want to be alone at these final moments
My eyes are drooping
See that the cold does not trespass between us
Embrace me in these defining moments of death
Let me breathe my last while our lips mingle

Telugu original: Aakhari swaasa by Dr.Akkinapalli subbarao
Eng translation: jagaddhatri