Dhuswa Saymi
These
The words
Are gods
Are devils, too.
But now
They have become humans.
Let’s see today
Words have become humans
And,
Humans also have become words.
Once
The word was the soul
Faith – it was
But today
Agitated – the word is.
That’s all.
In these days
Players – the words have become
Because
Humans play with them.
When
The modern humans
Will be true,
Words
Will be
True, good and beautiful.
Translation: Dr. Ramji Timalsina
Dhuswa Saymi (1930-2007) is a multilingual poet, who wrote in Nepali, Nepal Bhasha and Hindi. His published works include Works: Deepa (1989), Kharaniko Basti (1989), Manka (Novel, 1990), Himal-Krandan (One-act play, 1951), Ganki (Newari novel, also translated into Nepali, Hindi and English), Agnigarva (Novel translated into Nepali from Newari) and April 1996 (Collection of poems, 1996). He also edited Samakalin Sahitya, a premier Nepali journals, published by Nepal Academy.