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Poems on the MRT

காதல் / Love by Yousuf Rowther Rajid

 

காதல்
யூசூப் ரஜித் ராவுத்தர்

பிறைக்குள் நிலா
உன் நெற்றிப் பொட்டு
உன் குறுஞ்செய்திதான்
எனக்குக் குறுந்தொகை
எல்லாரும் கேட்கிறார்கள்
நீ யார் மாதிரி என்று
நீ கடந்து போகிறாய்
புறாக்களும் மைனாக்களும்
திரும்பிப் பார்க்கின்றன
ஆறுக்கும் வேருக்கும்
காற்றுக்கும் காதலுக்கும்
பாதை சொல்லாதீர்கள்
ஒரு காதலைச் சொல்லத்தான்
பனித்துளி புல்லுக்கு வருகிறது


Love
Written by Yousuf Rowther Rajid
Translated by Sulosana Karthigasu

The pottu on your forehead
Is a full moon
within a crescent frame.

Everyone asks
who you are like.
Even the pigeons
and mynahs
pause to take a look

Don’t try to show the way
to the river and the roots.
Or to the wind and true love.
The dew seeks the grass
only to declare its love.

Yousuf Rowther Rajid, 76, holds a Master's Degree in Physics and an M.Phil Degree. After serving as a Professor of Physics in India, he migrated to Singapore in 1993 and continues as freelance tutor. He is the founder and President of the Tamil Debate Association in 2009. He has earned several long-service awards from SINDA for 20 years of voluntary service; from the prison for counseling service over 10 years; and from the People's Association for 15 years of community service. He is a writer and has published 16 books in all categories. All proceeds were donated to charity.

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Poems on the MRT is an initiative by the National Arts Council, in partnership with SMRT and Stellar Ace. Produced by Sing Lit Station, a local literary non-profit organisation, this collaboration displays excerpts of Singapore poetry throughout SMRT’s train network, integrating local literature into the daily experience of commuters. Look out for poems in English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil in trains on the East-West, North-South and Circle Lines, as well as videos created by local artists and featuring local poets in stations and on trains. The Chinese, Malay, and Tamil poems are available in both the original languages and English. To enjoy the full poems, commuters may read them on go.gov.sg/potm.

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