Poetry
ප්රබුද්ධ
Not translated into English
Mahagama Sekera · 1977
Synopsis
The long poem follows Prabuddha, a poor young man in love with Yasodha, the daughter of a wealthy household with marble floors and chandeliers. He dreams of entering this world of suits, shoes and automobiles, while thousands of people toil and go hungry to build such mansions. Through him, the poem unfolds the literary, musical and cultural tastes of its time, their changes and the dangers they herald.
Context
The book appears in 1977, a year after the death of the poet, who did not see it in print. Its introduction is by Jothiya Dheerasekera, later the monk Dhammavihari: the poet had commissioned it from him and had met him on the very day of his death. The volume runs to one hundred and fifteen pages; it is the last poetic work of its author, whom partial English translations have since made known online.
Who it is for
A long poem in Sinhala, with no French translation or English edition; it keeps the movement of its author's songs.
Prizes and reception
Its author's most frequently cited and discussed work, regarded as his great poetic narrative.
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