Photo
Neither they see the fire blazing
Nor do they see the rain falling
they do not gather clothes
From the washing line;
they do not bolt the swinging window,
The mother returns
Sees the wet clothes from far,
Fallen glass and rotten apple
Remain just there,
Ants' melee all over the floor.
Neither mind works
Nor does the body function
Like Ahilya's immobility--
A curse given by her husband,
Such presences like statues
Are pervasive in every house.
Household work waits for long
Neighbour comes smelling
The burnt milk,
A small child cries from hunger,
Work laughs in the kitchen longer
Trash collector's cart driver
Knocks on the door
Ears, eyes, and noses all turn into photos--
No movement, and no agitation.
They do not know when thieves enter
And break the padlocks
They do not know
If they are robbed of everything
In the broad daylight-
These lovers of electronics
These great human figures.
Sound goes out
Echoing through them
Resounding on the wall
No sense of the bygone times
Nor of the flow,
Light keeps burning,
Fans keep churning
In the empty room,
Each evening, each holiday--
These potential photos
Frozen in the drawing room.
(Translated from Nepali by Abhi Subedi)
Control
I make lovely brush
Of the bamboo handiwork
Search for some colour
Reaching out into forests
Some I prepare myself
By dissolving leaves and nectars of flower
Stop by the canvas
But cannot spill any feelings there.
I weave garlands of colourful flowers
Hopping in forests far and near,
Collect various roots from the jungle
Soil's ornamentation, and spring's rumble
Hands do not proceed to send out invitation.
Birds' serenades, leaves' melody
Flowers' tenderness
Picking these all up, and putting in order
Decorate and shape myself like this,
I learn dance from the peacocks,
Make some serious preparations
But do not put my name
In groups for presentations.
Wind speaks incessantly
Flowing water dampens constantly,
Clouds play hide and seek
Rainbow tempts and freaks
All senses are in control
None walks on any free trails.
My own melody wakes me up each time,
I feel like opening curtain
And seeing the world to my full content,
Feel like drinking nature
Until thirst is quenched
Touching pure silky letter
Reaching out to the waves each moment
By and by jumping above the feelings
And tiring out the towns of silence.
I reach out to spill the sun at dawn
But return without spilling it
Sit waiting deep into the night
To spread the coolness,
Exhaust myself quietly,
Fear to approach the dreams,
I'm absolutely alone
In the deep maze of control.
(Translated from Nepali by Abhi Subedi)
