Just a small place before Nirvana

(Translated by Missaka Hettiarachchi)

Being not much

Of a “believer”, as such

But I too

Have prayed for a thing or two

For me, nothing was “god given”

Often a skeptic of heaven

But I too

Have prayed for a thing or two

When mom’s health fell

And dad’s death befell

The agnostic could not bear

And pined for “God” to appear

Even God might ponder

"IF" he commands heaven and yonder

“Contemptible vacillation”

He may think with abomination

But, again today

My mind yearns for a pray

As, Mom too has gone

Following dad, never to return

No, not anything big O Lord

Not for their return, I seek your accord

That never really crossed my thought

As I know it’s not a duty that you ought  

One small thing, no other

Can you arrange this for our mother?

A small place before nirvana

A big help O Lord, “a small place before nirvana”

Her small booklets

With short poems scribbled

Worn old magazines

Which she merrily ruffled

May be a small radio

If that’s not a big hassle

For Monday night’s audio

I’m sure she will be thankful

Yes, I mean it

Not Nirvana itself,

Just a small place before it  

As time flows without cease

Crowds would fill Nirvana indeed 

Mom would never find peace

Being a mom and many mouths to feed

In her years and decades many

Not a day has passed quiet, not any

So not nirvana Lord, “just a small place before”

With that simple peace and quiet, she would adore 

නිවනට මෙපිට පොඩි තැනක් හි ඉංග්‍රීසි පරිවර්තනය