Siddhicharan Shrestha
If you were still alive,
I would ask,
“Would you…?”
No, I would not ask anything.
I would come and play
with your toddling daughter daily,
love her,
and be a true friend
of her innocent heart.
And when you came to take her,
I would show you how
she would hide in my lap
if you were still alive.
When that baby would grow into a girl,
play like dolls
and dance,
I would come as your village’s schoolmaster
and she would attend the school too
I would teach her –
and show you, how she takes interest
in reading, and knowing the world
if you were still alive.
One day, she would be a maiden,
enlightened by the light of knowledge
and you would make people
look for a boy for her.
She would already be in love with someone
but you would hesitate an inter-caste tie,
and come to me and ask to counsel your child.
I would show your daughter saying,
“Tree is a caste,
and animal is a caste too.
How does caste matter when it’s between humans?”