~Chunky Shrestha~
Translated by Yuyutsu Sharma
The evening
city’s lights were blown off
wide roads of Kathmandu shrank
And trees, once proud, tall and erect
crumbled to the ground
trampling the criteria of conservation
concrete buildings cropped up
and historic tower of Dharahara
wore a crest-fallen look
In the dark of that dusk
rivers Bagmati and Bishnumati stopped and froze
and over shrines and stupas
hovered curls of hashish smoke
In haste, deities fled to Muglan in exile
wings of the white bird fluttered in the blue sky
as the plump priests chated mantras
to bless the barrel of the smouldering gun
In the lightless gloom of murky dusk
peace rallyists broke from their procession
and picked up blazing khukuris
and bood-drenched long knives
to race amuck in the sullen square of Ratnapark
The evening city’s
lights were blown off, they murdered
supremacy of ultimate truth
carrying their smarting snouts
soaked in blood, the wolves stalked
corridors of Singh Durbar
where legislators were debating
lusty figures of Miss Nepal Malvika Subba
The click of clock stood still
and Swayambhunath closed its lotus eyes
From the tall pine trees
welcoming the interval in this national drama
bats fluttered their filthy wings
In the lightless gloom of a murky dusk
I too strangled soul of my soul
