Synonyms

© 2005, Udaya Narayana Singh
From: Madhyampurush Ekvachan
Publisher: Vani Prakashan, New Delhi, 2005
ISBN: 8181834625

Dreams can’t speak;
They have no words.

Deaf, dumb, numb,
they express in sheer visuals.

Else, they would have chanted
all your hundred and eight names,
none of which has a weak stem or verb:
complete, confident.

Prepositions fly away
with the dust
rising from the hoofs
of their racing horses.

Inaudible,
they are sheer stunned images.

Else, they would have uttered
a thousand more of your synonyms
for which I would have had
to create a new thesaurus.

And write poems galore.

3 October, 1994

© Translation: 2006, Udaya Narayana Singh with Rizio Yohannan Raj
From: Second Person Singular
Publisher: Katha, New Delhi, 2006
ISBN: 8189020579