Kanad Maharshi
While I was composing poems
on palaces and temples
on priests and masters
on statues and the nobles
while I was contemplating poems
in the servitude of power and allowances
and perks, suddenly
Mr Kuinkel came and proposed:
compose a poem on her
See, when she was feeble
and desired help
she had been called a beggar
and when parts of her limbs
all wrinkled, rickety and crumpled were seen
out of her garments
all ragged and torn out that she wore
due to poverty, scarcity and starvation
she was scorned as an insane
When she was closer with males
and was bound by friendship
she had been labeled a fallen woman and a prostitute
Kuinkel narrated to me her story of this and that
He was still relating it to me
but I was writing poems on the palaces and temples
was writing on the priests and masters
on the statues and the lord
while I was contemplating poems
in servitude of power and allowances and perks
[Translated by Govinda Raj Bhattarai]
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Kuinkel is a common family name.
[Away from partisan fragmentation and debates of doctrines, poet Kanad Maharshi engages himself in literary creation where he appears ardent in seeking and establishing human values with musical contemplations, while collecting aesthetic experiences of the fine sentiments of life. Born on 10 May 1954 in Kathmandu, poet Maharshi stated writing around 1965. His first published work was a poem titled “Khai Hamro Daura Surwal” (Where are our Daura-Surwal) published in Mahurya. His published works include poetry collections Gupha (Cave), Pagleka Lavaharu (The Molten Lavas), Bhater ra Aankhaharu (Feast and the Eyes) Ghauma Haribhakta Katwal (Haribhakta Katuwal amid Wounds). He also edited two story collections: of Lalima (Rosy Dawn), and Anima. He was honored with Lokendra Literary Award (1997), Deergha Seva Medal (1998). He lives with his family in Kathmandu.]