Jayanti Spandan
Even though a bunch of human footsteps loudly chants slogans on daily basis,
trumpeting victory rallies or opposition voices,
how patient the gentle road still remains!
Though crowded by those who have been looted of their belongings,
Have lost their existence, having been sidelined from the mainstream,
and have continued to beg, standing above it day and night,
how quiet and calm the road still remains!
How ironical!
Even though it witnesses pelting of stones and bricks and lathi-charges,
people jumping around and making heated debates,
bargaining on every inch and measurement,
and calculating who wins or loses,
how quiet and calm the road still remains!
Do you think the road does not know?
People can be friends to each other,
they can also be enemies.
They are also the ones who can build and destroy it,
make divisions and decisions on which part of the road belongs to whom.
And, it is also the same bunch of people who can make the road narrower.
how quiet and calm the road still remains!
Trans: Poshendra Pravat
[Jayanti Spandan is a Nepali poet. Her published works include her collection of poems Aama-Chhori, essays Baktrita Aajako Aawashyakta and the play Didi-Bahini. She also writes for children. She works at the National Examinations Board, Bagmati Province.]