Ape ratae patow anne - a poem

by Basil Fernando
[June 13, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka Guardian]

Two boys went to play
They are both
Ape lamai anne.

The newspaper says
One pushed the other
Down a well
He is now dead, anne.

The other is in hiding
Now our police, the mad dogs
Are looking for him
When caught what will happen, anne?

Maha evun fight politics
Like senseless killers
Bloody talk is what our children hear
What is happening to our patow dear?

Two boys went to play
They are both ape ratae patow, anne
One killed the other
To the other tragic fate awaits - anne.

(Maha evun- big people, ape rate rate-our countries children,
anne – an expression of lament
ape ratae lamai – out country’s children)