Tuesday, June 9, 2009


CACTUS

K.SATCHIDANANDAN


Thorns are my language.
I announce my existence
with a bleeding touch.

Once these thorns were flowers.
I loathe lovers who betray.
Poets have abandoned the deserts
to go back to the gardens.
Only camels remain here, and merchants,
who trample my blooms to dust.

One thorn for each rare drop of water.
I don’t tempt butterflies,
no bird sings my praise.
I don’t yield to droughts.

I create another beauty
beyond the moonlight,
this side of dreams,
a sharp,piercing,
parallel language.

(Translated from the Malayalam by the poet)

18 comments:

ഇബ്രാഹിം ചമ്പക്കര said...

Are you the very same satchidanandan who wrote the collection of poems 'sakshyangal'.

SATCHIDANANDAN said...

YES, THE SAME SINNER..IBRAHIM!

SATCHIDANANDAN said...

YES, THE SAME SINNER..IBRAHIM!

Inday said...

You wrote this poem in a precise imagery of the plant cactus itself if only it can indeed speak like we do.

This is the first time I have come across your blog, thanks to Susan. I have been looking for her blog but can't find her.

Instead, I was taken here with her guiding hand.

I am not so active with poetry anymore. Let me just come to read your work as time allows.

സ്നേഹതീരം said...

Thorns are my language
I announce my existence
with a bleeding touch.


Without pain, wounds and cries, nothing new and fresh is created.
when the bleeding touch is for the re-birth of human values, the pain inflicted is justified.

Thnks to my friend who led me to this beautiful blog.

And I say , 'namasthe' to Satchidanandan Sir :)

ചിത്ര said...

..why no new posts, sir??..busy?

വല്യമ്മായി said...

കള്ളിമുള്‍ച്ചെടിയുടെ സമാന്തരഭാഷ ഇഷ്ടമായി.

Martin Tom said...

Great sir

Mohamed Salahudheen said...

Nice Reading!Thanks a lot sir.

Anees Hassan said...

me first time here

Anonymous said...

I too feel that you prefer thorns to flowers, sir....why no new posts?
request give the mal poem also in the same post...
another suggestion.since you have 2 blogs, reqst give link of one blog in the other.

landed here thru sona..

ശ്രീനാഥന്‍ said...

oh, sir, I never knew that you are a 'blogger' (what an ugly word!)
'cactus' fills my veins with the same wine of your malayalam kavitha :
-I announce my existence
with a bleeding touch...
I create another beauty
beyond the moonlight,
this side of dreams,
a sharp,piercing,
parallel language-
sir, I am proud that I live in sachi's times!
would you pl. post some more?

Pranavam Ravikumar said...

My Wishes Sir!

eccentric said...

only a humble bow sir:)
u make us speechless!!

eccentric said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
BP said...

I can connect with the theme of this poem...easily..
Not only me...out there.. a lot of people who feel alone..and ignored...can relate with the pangs of pain..this poem conveys..!
Thank you Sachidanandan Sir.
May God Bless you.

Vandana Sharma said...

WOW A POET CAN SEE BEAUTY ANYWHERE. EVERY THING HAS ITS OWN CHARM AND BEAUTY AND SO DOES CACTUS.

bhoomikka said...

It is the very suggestiveness of the poem i liked.That subtlety is charming. I doubt, if this suggestiveness was maintained throughout; esp towards the end.would you entertain my comment if i say the persona of the poem sounds too eager in declaring right away that "i create another beauty" ; "a ... parallel language"? I'm afraid ,if the poet of 'cactus' has tresspassed our readers' or critics' area.