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Thursday, November 14, 2024

To a Mountaineer

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Prateek Dhakal

People, who stepped on the moon
Can also reach Mars
Or Mercury for that matter;
However, will they be able to erect
Yet another Sagarmatha there
Like on earth?
My mountains
Are much higher than the moon
My mountains
Are much loftier than my faith
And the summiteers
Who set their feet atop those peaks
And make their matha—the hood
Loom higher than Sagarmatha
They are higher than man
Those summiteers—luminaries of the nation
Are great, like the martyrs.
I worship the mountains
You — Hiranyabaksha
I honor every single but lively step
That stepped atop the summit
Let your toes never bump against anything
Let your action
Uphold the glory of the mountains too!
My mountains
Are my love-laden gurus
Albeit with inaccessible heights
They stay close to the earth
Sending innumerable rivers down the lane
They lend life to the earth
It’s true: a fruit-laden bough sags
These peaks with immensurable height
The live-giving Ganga at their foot
And my mountains
Always inspire me to be modest
Summiteers, I congratulate you!
Mountaineer, I felicitate you!
You leave the base camp and move up
Now with a heavy burden on your back
But with the khada
Of honor and dignity of the entire human race
You combat the inhospitable snowfall
And the chilly windstorm
Only to add a shred of light
To the dignity of the humankind
You are another Buddha
Who are setting your steps
Uphill along an arduous trail
Of yet another renunciation
Only for the sake of the nation’s dignity
Khumbila
You bless them!
Dear Moon!
You send good messages
That a living mountain has today
Set out to reach on the top of another mountain;
Another summit is marching towards you
To hoist a flag on the top
He shall be immortal in life
And shall be immortal in death as well.
My immortal climber!
The annals of your courage
Are much worthier
Than the salute of reverence
I confer on you!


Trans: Mahesh Paudyal

Prateek Dhakal is a poet and travelogue writer of high repute. Basically he was a poet in his early days and now is established as a bestseller travelogue writer of Nepal. One of his works Beyond the Himalayas is published from Universe USA, and is available in Amezon.com too. He retired from civil service from the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of Nepal. His published works include Sanulai (elegy), and several travelogues including Beyond the Himalayas, Seti Pani Kali Pani, Sagarmathako Adharsibirbata, Chinko Bichitra Chitra, Paitalaka Chhapharu, Gandakiko Muhantira, Parikrama Annapurna and Anandabhoomiko Aangan, some of these are all time bestsellers. He is the recipient of Hemraj Pandey Award, Silver Medal from Mahendra Sanskrit University, First Prize in National Poetry Competition organized by Nepal Academy, National Education Award from the Ministry of Education, Pasang Lhamu Education Award, etc.

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