Bikram Subba
(Trans: Manprasad Subba)
Continued from previous week…
From the jungle she brought tuber
With which she’d quench her hunger
And during the time of leisure
Sumnima busied herself as weaver.
She would stretch lines on loom
But ready-made frame presented itself
Whose work was it, she looked around
Or may it be some lover’s jest?
Sometimes the oil-lamp dried up
And breeze with lamp came up
She thought someone’s in good jest
And shyly bent down her head.
She felt like calling, but in what dialect?
By craft of the work she was attracted.
Sky might be eying from a hide
Bending over the earth nearby
In the heart surged the waves
On the loom snapped the thread
And a bird came with a shuttle new
To mend the thread on the loom
So fascinating was the shuttle
Her heart would joyously ripple
She called the bird close to her
Her eyes danced here and there.
Conjuring up an idea, a trick
Sweet words she began to utter:
Sumnima: You are attractive and pretty
You must not spoil your beauty
At which the bird Jureli sings
And comes bumble bee humming.
Bird : You look and sound different today
The lock of your heart is giving way
I see in you something unusual
What’s in your bosom tell me, pray?
Sumnima: Something is restless in my heart
Like to ask you but I’m too shy.
Bird : With eyes closed whisper in my ear
And quietly unburden yourself, dear.
Sumnima: How lovely this lamp and bamboo-comb
Look at this shuttle and the patterned bag!
Bird: I feel I got a clue to answer —
What message the pattern bears.
Sumnima: Listen O Bird! My heart I open
You know youth and its tickly fun
Where did you bring this bag from?
Made it yourself or from someone?
Bird: While pecking at Kafal I saw this
Curious, I moved close to it
At that moment I heard a voice
Bid me to give you this as a gift.
Sumnima: Did you see his face and figure?
Is he like a bough full of flowers?
Bird : Only his voice resounded there
He in person did not appear.
Sumnima: Go, my friend, peer at him
If willing, to me bring him.
How to hold this youthful dream?
My heart’s already gone to him.
Why to live in languishment?
I’ll make an enduring partner of him.
***
Holding the empty bag again
Bird fluttered and flapped her wings
Flew over the windy stream
Bearing the assignment for her friend
Alighted she on the Kafal land
As a messenger with language of bird
Chirping twittering so sweetly
With notes melodious spoke the bird.
Voice: Why do you come with empty bag?
What good news for me do you have?
Bird: The bag is indeed so full of love
She wants you to settle with her.
She believes you to be a man
And accepts you as her husband
What words shall I take to her?
Without message I can’t go there.
Voice: Yes, I have something to say
Know you that I am a leper
My body is covered with sores
That ooze pus through their pores
Like tears flowing from the eyes
Of someone grieving, pus flows
Skilled I am but physique so ugly
Blossom is she with locks so lovely
Appears to be a beauty-treasure
A bloomed flower and queen of nature
If she sees me she might shudder
And in abhorrence run further
How to accept what she offers?
My heart’s drowned in incessant tears.
Bird: I go and convey what you say
And know what her heart says
There must be some way of remedy
So you must not resign to worry.
***
Bird flew across the hills and slopes
Reached where Sumnima lay with hopes.
Sumnima: What message, O friend, have you brought?
Did you tell him my every word?
Bird: Every word of yours was conveyed
And he spoke to me with all openness.
It’s sad he is badly diseased
His whole body by sores is seized
Pus keeps flowing like a stream
He fears you might despise him.
Seeing his face so full of sores
You might bolt as if scourged.
This is the message I have brought
And now I find you much distraught.
Command me now what shall I do?
I’ll do whatever I’m asked to.
Sumnima: Diseases and ailments come and leave
Care and nursing will bring relief
Conjugal life has light and shade
Undaunted spirit makes sorrow fade
One who falls in love with appearance
May later end up in repentance
Whatever may his countenance be
His skill and craft fascinate me
Life smiles with such artistry
I desire to be his better half
I’ll be happy to die in his lap
Bird: To him this message I’ll bear
Hope he hears with heart’s ear
***
Bird flapped its wings and flew
Reaching there his attention it drew
Stepping on the wind the voice rippled
His ears curious to listen to Bird!
Voice: Have you come with any message
Or just roaming to pass the days?
Bird: I conveyed to her all you had said
Now you occupy her heart and head
She yearns to wed and live with you
She has offered her heart to you
Now nothing of your pretense works
Your consent the greatest joy of hers
Voice: Act in haste is the woman’s trait
Later she cries in bitter regret
Tell her to think once more again
Before you walk watch each direction
As for me I’m ready to be married
But I cannot say to where it will lead.
Bird: This your willingness I’ll carry to her
I believe you’ll be happy for ever!
***
Bird in delight came back flying
Reported all sweetly singing
Having heard of the groom’s consent
She could hardly suppress herself
The blood sped up through her veins
Her cheeks blushed into pink and red
Her eyes brightened up with delight
One could hear her heartbeat smite
So greatly elated was she now
She knew not what to do and how
She felt like tossing and turning
In elation her heart was churning
It was as if she was on wings
With palms open she felt like clapping
Should she dance in a hopping beat?
Oh! What a charming net was it!
Should she sing with resounding stream?
What a bond to tie her with him!
Whenever a fawn came near her
She would hold and tickle the creature
The clear stream flowed singing
The breeze frolicked while soughing
New leaves of youth on her bosom
Her figure shone like gold in the sun
Intoxicating fragrance all around
By her the fruit of youth is borne
To whom should this fruit be offered?
How’ll she move her first step forward?
He may cuddle me with one arm
And caress my body with other arm
My whole body might be electrified
God only may know this sporting trial
These lips may tremble strangely then
Lips on lips might be a new sensation
I wonder what it would be like
To get melted in his embrace
Sumnima would thus fancy a lot
With fingers her figure she touched
Her friends came and surrounded her
To find the wedding date they stirred
As the auspicious day was fixed
Bird flew to the groom to speak
Now Paruhang eagerly waited for
The day when the two would be together.
***
Notes:
Kafal: A kind of tree that bears bunches of small red fruits in summer season
Gunyu: A Nepali-styled sari
Choli: Blouse
Diyo: A small, round-shaped and semi-flat earthen oil lamp
Dhupauro: A handy earthen pot which is filled with burning coal to burn incense dust
Siundo: Parting of hair on woman’s head.
Amrita: A holy sweet drink
Prasad: Holy food offered to God.
Rudraksha: Thorny seed of a kind of tree, used as holy beads.
Phedangma: A shamanic priest in Limbu ethnic group.
Bhorla: A kind of plant with broad leaves.
Bakaina: A kind of tree that blooms in tiny bluish white flowers in spring season and in summer it bears bunches of seeds.
Aama: Mother
Kachuro: A kirati shamanic act in which a shaman performs slicing of ginger, each slice at one stroke, and thus speaks about what is not known to ordinary mortals.
Malibaans: A kind of bamboo.
[To be continued….]