Kewal Binabi
You are busy worshipping
as Mahadeva, to—
a sculpted stone
in the face of my father
once I consigned in your temple.
For ages
You are offering flowers
on the steeple, to—
a deformed cornered pan
I managed
after my mother’s death.
The prayer flag
flapping over your head
I stitched from
a red petticoat of
my menstruated wife
Remembering my own sexual intercourse
I sculpted erotic images
on the tundal*
that you kiss every morning
with your forehead.
Look ! Mr. Priest
I have decorated
the beautiful pinhole window
with the toil of my sweat,
emptying my eyes out
When you;
put fire on my heart
burnt my family alive
transformed my beautiful world into ashes,
I have been visiting
my museum of memory
which you call as ‘temple’
Hey Priest!
I challenge
to dismantle my
museum of memory
if you can!
Trans: Raj Kumar Baral
[Kewal Binabi (b 1983) is an award-winning performer of poetry. His poetry primarily attacks age-old caste system and monolithic ruling system that privileges one caste and class, and denigrates the other. He is one of the contributors of Aafar, a collection of poems by eight young, progressive poets.]