Hemanta Shrestha
While filling an application form,
one day
I wrote ‘the sky’ as my father’s name
and wrote ‘the earth’ as my mother’s name.
‘Human’ I wrote as my relative
and ‘road’ my address.
I don’t know whose son I am
I don’t know either whose grandson
perhaps having no purpose
or seeing no worth at all,
no one accepted fatherhood,
and none claimed motherhood.
When I was born,
I had first seen the sky
and kissed the earth.
I have been wandering
all my life on the road
with a human mask.
How long should I reiterate
the glitzy names?
Life has always been
facing defeats
and, I have lost
my true identity
while filling application forms.
Translated by Mahesh Paudyal
Poet Hemanta Shrestha who takes doctrinism and groupism as propagandas to force one’s viewpoints on others, writes poems in favor of ensuring a progressive movement of life. He harbors the conviction that a nation’s glory should not come under question. Poet Shrestha was born on 19 November 1957 in Myanglung, Tehrathum District of Nepal. He started writing in 1972. His first published work was ‘Naya Barsha’, (New Year) published in Madhunganga in 1973. His published works are Desh Bhokaharuko Roti Hoina (The Country is not the Bread of the Hungry) and Geet Ma Kasari Gau (How Should I Sing?), two collection of poems. Hemanta is a recipient of Gold Medal (Theatre festival, 1977), Bronze Medal (Poetry Meet, Silver Medal (Poetry Meet, 1983), Gold Medal (Poetry Meet, 1984). He lives in the United States.