The Old Woman Of Catalonia Poem by Theepachelvan Piratheepan

With the Messengers of God sprinkling Borago flowers
all over the Golden City
when the declaration of the birth of a Free Nation
was going on
the old woman whose face was all smiles,
with a loaded heart
said once to her offsprings "My dear daughter!
We are being annihilated by an invisible war! "

When the Spain Premier was speaking over the Television
the old woman with cheeks gleaming as Barcelona city
who would always be going moving around
with zest and life
told her children: "My Dear Son, those who are so used
to steal our pebbles
would interpret freedom as partition and thus
shield our eyes! "
‘What we have is the charter of an indivisible nation! "

The old woman who kept in her handbag an old diary
with theSpanish king's words
"Henceforth you'll never be able to sing your old songs"
Written _
told her children: "My darling daughter, "My Mother Tongue is
notjust for writing on my tomb when I am gone! "

When Philip the King voiced derisively
‘From now on no new nation is possible'
the old woman having a hearty laugh
with her toothless mouth wide-opened
told her children:
"My darling son, in the hands of betrayers and exploiters
the fragrance of unity is nil.
Our ancestral rule itself was the result of prejudice".

The old lady who is still alive
with the same zest and vigour
on the countenance ofevery Catalonian
who wears a smile which only Liberty can provide
told her children:
"My Dear Children! If History were to forget
that we are not Spanish but Catalonian
your children's names would end up as ‘Refugees'

Theepachelvan

Rendered in English by Latha Ramakrishnan