~Tulasi Diwas~
Translated by Abhi Subedi
Nights, crest fallen
in the fight with the light,
jumping out unexpectedly
from the latticed windows and doors
opened up to welcome the light
have descended hurriedly to the street,
bands of darkness becoming–
now a black coat
now a gray coat
on top of black cap and black shoes*,
raising heads one hand high
in the day time
dauntless
are walking on the main street!
Seeing them
the pedestrians of light
consider them the floods
of a black river of molten tar
rising suddenly
and drifting by,
and they contemplate plans
to make a bright dam
of the unveiled beliefs!
At this instant
the traffic police
standing by the roadside like lampposts,
and thinking it
as the astray officers’ procession
taken out on a national day
give signals to go ahead
before the green light coming!
In this manner
they are successfully completing
a hazardous journey on foot
at every crossing from here
with dignity.
Seeing all this
a bodhi tree,
I
quietly wait standing
on the fringe of New Road,
yes, standing quietly
like a walking stick!
[*] Nepali government officers’ uniforms. They wear this uniform during the processions they are supposed to take part in on occasions like the National Day celebration.
(Source : Global Literature in Libraries Initiative (GLLI) website)
