~Prabin Khaling~
Translation : Dweep Mustang
Still have to wait for Relief
determined destiny drenched by politics
in poverty ridden Somalia
echoing the refrain of insufficiency.
Rather, earthquake should occur?
Relief would have been chock-a-block,
securing a one-time meal for the belly.
Speaks the reverie of Birman*.
A graduate daughter returns home planning
to open a beauty parlor shop
through the road inside the file.
Frustrated sperms of Birman
unable to conceive a word.
Having discovered this famine of word,
the local Neta* summons a congregation
where a salesgirl spreads an affording solace
Chyaa!* Duplicate solace which seems
just like a clasp of lightning to the village.
Yet Earth and Village are alike
Earth endures the farmer’s plough to brew life
While the village endures solace to brew dreams.
Still have to wait for BPL* rice,
Relief dependent Fate
Rather, landslide should occur?
To live in a relief camp would have been splendid
blessed with everything Sarkari*
Bhaat* and Tarkari*.
There is scarcity of water in the Village
Did his updated status in facebook
reach the government?
Did the President read it or not?
Prime Minister, liked it or not?
In thousands of Birmansalla*
There is no water
no Khana*, uncovered
Chana* and Mana*
As this is neither the village of the President nor
Of the Prime Minister.
This is Third Village
Yes, a Third Village.
NOTE:
Birman- Typical Nepali name of a boy
Neta- Minister, Politician
Chyaa – Ugh! Exclamation of disgust.
BPL- Below Poverty Line
Sarkari- Government
Bhaat- Rice
Tarkari- Curry
Birmansalla- “Birman”- Typical Nepali name of a boy, “Salla” is a School or an institution.
Khana- Food
Mana-Clothes
Chana- Shelter
___________________________________
Prabin Khaling is a senior journalist and the editor of “Purvanchal Bharati”, a weekly National Nepali tabloid from Sikkim. His works have been published in several Nepali magazines. He joins the set of poets who are termed to be as Progressive poets in Nepali Literature. Moreover, his art of interest lies in Photography (also the photo journalist for The Telegraph), reading and hiking off shores. His upcoming set of four anthologies entitled Gaon ma Kavita (Poems on Villages), Jhari (Rain), Maya (Love) and Selected Poems of Prabin Khaling (translated poems) are set to unveil by the end of this year.
(Source : Teesta Rangeet – Poetry Journal – Issue #4)
