Come home, son

(Transliteration of work by Vali from the Tamil movie 'Desam')

hey you, Can you not hear
the voice of your homeland
Ringing in your ears like
a distant chiming bell?

hey you, do you not listen
To your mother whispering
softly in your ears
'Come home, son'?

hey you, do you not get lost
in the memories of the past?
will these thoughts ever die??
Will these memories not follow you
like a long shadow??

do you not see that
a foreign soil is a mere camp tent?
do you not recognize the difference
between a house and a home?

do you not see that
even the highest flying bird
comes to home for the nest?
do you not see that
the house is out but
the mind is always in??

do you not understand that
all the dollars and pounds,
all the big houses and posh cars,
will not give you peace of mind
when you dont have home land to stand??

--repeat-
hey you, Can you not hear
the voice of your homeland
Ringing in your ears like
a distant chiming bell?

hey you, do you not listen
To your mother whispering
softly in your ears
'Come home, son'?
--repeat--

the ganges hails you,
all the rivers welcome you,
all the mountains welcome you,
the good times are calling you -
times when you used to
play hide and seek among the trees,
times when you chased those
little butterflies around the garden,
times when you slept in the laps
of those coconut trees,
times when you forgot inner self
in the warmth of your near and dear,
times when heaven was on earth
with the moonlit dinner and
a sound sleep on the straw mat

--repeat-
hey you, Can you not hear
the voice of your homeland
Ringing in your ears like
a distant chiming bell?

hey you, do you not listen
To your mother whispering
softly in your ears
'Come home, son'?
--repeat--

even the most beautiful moon
has scars in its face,
so what your beautiful home
has some tears and cracks??
will your hands not wipe off
the tears of your mother?
will your hands not lead
darkness to light, myth to truth??
let this country find prosperity
following your footsteps!
let this brothren find
an able, noble soul to follow!
turn back, come home -
come find peace in your mothers lap!!

-repeat--
hey you, Can you not hear
the voice of your homeland
Ringing in your ears like
a distant chiming bell?

hey you, do you not listen
To your mother whispering
softly in your ears
'Come home, son'?
--repeat--