I and You

                  Kunhunni master

              (tr. by Vinodkumar Edachery)

Not while walking round the temple

Or while bathing at that river ghat

Or on the way to college with friends

I saw you first.

Not asking the name, book or flower

Or whispering honeyed words

Begging to have love for me

I got close to you first.

Not while struggling to get into the bus

Or while hurrying to get to the mess

Or while in dream alone with you

I touched you first

I saw you, got close to you

And touched you, sweet heart

While studying on sleepless nights

Atom theory for yearly exam.

(This is translation of Kunhunni master’s poem  ‘Njanum Neeyum’)

Kunhunni master:

An eminent children’s poet in Malayalam. A teacher by profession, he has written hundreds of pithy and epigrammatic verses for children.He won several honours including Kerala Sahithya Academy award for his collection, ‘Aksharathettu’. He was a bachelor.

Vinodkumar Edachery

Vinodkumar Edachery:

                      He writes poems both in Malayalam and English.His poems have been published by various periodicals and journals. He is a regular contributor to ‘College Teacher’, the monthly journal of AKPCTA. ECLIPSE, FROGS IN THE WELL and ALARM are his poetry collections.His poems also have appeared in online journals and print magazines like Muse India, Deep Poems, Litnet (South Africa),Gloom Cupboard (US), Palm Leaf (UK) etc. He is presently working as Associate Professor at RSM SNDP Yogam College, Koyilandy, Kerala, India.

Email:avkedachery@gmail.com