By Bimal Kishore Shrivastwa
The pursuit of taboos
is likened to the pursuit of blessings.
Humans, from cradle to coffin,
are snared in cults.
The frail woman’s fast-vowing for a son,
The leaders sacrificing an animal for winning an election,
The girls treated as untouchables during their periods,
The labors forced to worship bosses as lords,
The wives worshipping swellhead husbands as gods!
Isn’t the constant adherence to creed
an assertion of fear?
The restrained mind of the folks,
in credulity, just assaults, exploits in awe.
When the illusive pursuit is denied,
And vows and prayers are substituted by actions,
The true blessings are translated into life.
[Bimal Kishore Shrivastwa, PhD, is Assistant Professor at Post-Graduate Campus Tribhuvan University at Biratnagar, Nepal. Many of his poems have appeared in several national and international periodicals.]