Tulasi Diwasa
Old sun
a splinter bounced from Time’s mountain
perhaps a black spider
now
caught in the day’s branches
knits consistently a web drawing lines of demarcation
in the remaining time
even in that little yellow sky-
a falling splinter
blown down by the winds
to the crevice of the tree
growing within me!
From the small woods of the weeks and months
to the dense forests of centuries
tangled shafts of light—
loose, undulating,
some nestled in the smoky beams
and outside
straying around in thoughts
linger,
others stay huddled quietly
in some corner
where the left-over sky
sunk into the minds
bends!
The old sun
a splinter bounced from Time’s mountain
perhaps a black spider
now
hanging from the day’s branches
knits consistently a web
in the remaining time
drawing lines of demarcation
even in that little yellow sky-
a falling splinter
blown down by the winds
to the crevice of the tree
growing within me!
Translated by Abhi Subedi
[Prof. Tulasi Diwasa (b. 1941) is a leading Nepalese poet, folklorist and cultural expert. Prof. Diwasa has been Professional Associate, Communication Institute, East-West Centre, Hawaii, U.S.A. (1974); Visiting Researcher, Gakushuin University, Tokyo (1976-77); Japan Foundation Professional Fellow, Japan, (1977); Professional Research Associate, Cultural learning Institute, East West Centre Hawaii, U.S.A. (1978); British Council Visiting Fellow (1986); Visiting Professor, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (1996); Visiting Researcher, National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, and Senior Japan Foundation Professional Fellow (1996-97); Cultural Consultant, Finland Embassy, Kathmandu, (1999) ; Chairman and Executive Director, Nepali Folklore and Folk life Study Project, Kathmandu (2005-); Member, National Cultural Policy Committee, Ministry of Culture, Government of Nepal (2010-11); Cultural Advisor, Story Heritage of Asia, Asian Culture Complex of the Hub City of Asian Culture, Gwangju ( 2011 – 2013), Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Seoul, South Korea; Team Leader, Nepali Folklore, Folk life and Intangible Cultural Heritage Study Project (since 2001). A poet and cultural expert of high repute, he has represented Nepal is several countries of the world. His published literary works include Tulasi Diwaska Kavita, Nepali Lokkatha: Kehi Adhyayan, Dhimal Lokdharma ra Sanskriti, Pradarshankari Dhimal Loksanskriti, Nepali Bajaharu, Folktales of Nepali, Intangible Cultural Heritage of Nepal: Future Directions Nepali Lokkatha, Nepali Loksanskriti Sangosthi; Editing of Seven Poets (in English) and several works on culture. He lives with his family in Kathmandu.
When a master’s poem is translated by another master poet and translator, it certainly generates epiphany in the receptor. Matchless muse and compose!