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The Museum of Memory

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.]

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