Rohini holds fast to her musePOETRY: And what a muse is hers! It gives to her work a rare passion as well as a tenderness; an emotional creativity that has made her sing her songs only too well. It was my privilege to review Rohini's poetic works recently and I could easily see why she has been honoured in the USA and the Far East. Her poems move with the rhythm of the artist in her and I count among my books, "Thoughts are Wings" - visions arising out of her paintings; "Firefly Crossing" - a splendid packing of almost 200 Haiku; "Unicorn Whispers," "Ripples" and her latest collection, "Flowers of Passion".
Rohini Cooray is the true "concerned poet" - soaring to meet and countenance the world around her, whatever the garb it wears. Nature, its beauty and its wildness, has always made guitar-strums in her mind; and she is not averse to stand up to the horrors that come upon the lands that she is so much a part of, be it the USA, the Far East, Asia and her Lankan homeland. It tells of valises packed bulging; goblets overflowing with the nectar of a mind that shapes her words with a new vigour, making new epistles. There are always those insights, flashes, lines both descriptive and narrative, that bring to her readers new understandings and perspectives. What is more, as one sees, Sri Lanka is her "land of gold" and much has she travelled it, to exult over a riot of fence flowers; to lament over the ashes of the past; to energise her spirit with the blessed hopes of tomorrow. Rohini Cooray was recently awarded the first prize (Adult Category) by M. Jean-Phillipe Roy, Director of the Alliance Francaise de Colombo, for her tsunami poem titled "An Oasis of Horror". Of course, the poem was written in French - and that's another thing. Rohini is conversant with and fluent in French. The awards ceremony was held at the Alliance Francaise de Colombo, and was graced by M. Yves-Alain Corporeau, Cultural Councillor of the French Embassy. I would like to give you the poem in Rohini's most musical and elegant French as well as an "explanation" of it (not a translation) in English. Une oasis d'horreur Eau douce - 650 puitsassainis Par I'UNICEF O vaste mer qui manque D'eau que I'on peut boire Meme goutte! La mer bizarre et livide Comine mon ame tourmentee Par une detresse sans nom, Chasse tous les reves descevant Sur I'infini ses flots mouvants Plus haut que mon esperance! Dressez les tentes 31,000 Si vous pouvez rester, restez Et puis embarquez sur la mer des tenebres En chantant "Voulez-vous manger le Lotus parfume?" Un ange noir, cruel, gros de rancune, Sonne la victoire De ces grandes horreurs Apocalyptiques! Let me now give you the English version: An oasis of horror 650 drinking sweet water wells Cleaned out by The UNICEF.... Oh! Boundless sea that does not have Water that one can drink - Not even one drop! This sea, mysterious dark and leaden Like my soul tormented By an unnamed distress. Drive all these deceptive dreams To infinity With this moving tide So much higher than all my hopes! 31,000 tents to erect - If it is possible to remain do stay And then set sail on this sombre sea, Singing: "Do you wish to eat the Perfumed Lotus?" An angry angel, dark, cruel and full of menace Has tolled his victory! These enormous horrors - Apocalyptic! Rohini selected this poem from 24 tsunami poems she has now written in French and will shortly give us a French-English collection containing them. Gifted artist that she is, I do hope she will put in her paintings as well. She received, as part of her award a beatiful 2006 French Dictionary that, at a guess, would be worth Rs. 30,000. |
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