Krishna Bhushan Bal
Looking into the mirror
of the emerald meadow of waters,
the moon has flashed a fruity chuckle.
Tickled at the gentle touch of a breeze
the water spreads wavelets,
and the entire moon appears to be a neonate,
swinging in a cradle.
The water-birds as if to jab their beaks through the moon,
fly out of sight fluttering their wings.
The trees across the river,
stand still as if to shoulder the entire era.
The lamps flickering in the houses big and small,
on the either banks, are adorned like the stars.
The horizon getting narrowed gradually
has descended to stick to the hill on the bank.
The moon now crossing the yonder region of waters,
has come down to rest atop me.
I wonder from where has gathered
a flock of sheep like clouds.
As if a furry pasmina the clouds pulled over them
the sheet of the full moon on the meadow of waters.
Probably the switch to turn on and off
each sparkling moment is in the hand of these clouds.
Translated by Mukul Dahal (From “Kavita 78” by Nepal Academy)
[Krishna Bhusan Bal is a poet with no ordinary commitment to poetry. He is a pioneering practitioner of modern Nepali poetry, occupying a front-ranking position among poets of high poetic merits. He was born on 13 March 1948 in Ilam District of Nepal. He started writing around 1963, and made his debut in publication by publishing a poem “Ma Yuwak Hoon” (I Am a Youth) in Saugat, an Ilam-based magazine in 1966. His published works include Dajyu Timro Haat Chahinchha (Brother, I Need Your Hand, short epic), Bholi Basne Bihan (The Morning that Shall Wake up Tomorrow, a collection of poems). He is a recipient of National Talent Award and many felicitations. He died on 25 June 2012 in Biratnagar.]