The World Behind the Moon

The moon has always been an attraction
for those who live on Earth,
bringing beauty, grace and coolness
to the intoxicated, enchanting, carefree ones.

Lord Rama and Krishna had said to their mothers,
“I will bring the moon as a toy.”
Singing, “Chanda Mama, far away,”
we too had asked for pua.

From “Beloved like the moon”
to “The moon rose again,” we sang,
and in the mist of moonlight,
many lovers and beloveds rejoiced.

The imagination of “a face radiant like the moon”
was shattered by the lunar mission,
yet the smoothness of the full moon
has still not faded.

His shining face
attracts human attention,
the canopy of his moonlight
reminds the lover of his beloved.

The world is after the moon,
continuously conducting newer research:
What is inside?
What is it like outside?
Can a human settlement be built there?

India, America, China, Russia,
Japan, Israel, Korea,
and who knows how many more countries
are researching the Moon.

Registration of land has begun,
the search for water is also continuing,
finding the treasures hidden underground
is necessary for all of them.

The settlement and civilization of aliens—
we will identify them all,
and if possible, catch two or four
and bring them to Earth.

Such a beautiful neighbour—
why would we not be tempted?
We will gaze at it intently,
we will climb up to the Moon.

We will call the old woman with the spinning wheel
and take her on a tour of Earth,
bring her here and happily
introduce her to everyone.

We will be close to the moon in the sky,
have sweet, sweet pua prepared,
sit around plates and bowls,
and enjoy eating them immensely.

Vidya