Matrika Pokharel
The white palace
molests the youth of Helambu
every night;
takes bath in the sweats of
Kale – the blacksmith,
and Gore – a Gharti boy!
He cannot stand the talks
of sunshine in this village.
Eight years back, one day
though it was at night
the cloud unveiled its countenance, albeit a little,
the moon showed a portion of its face
and that day
the white palace
ordered curfew!
In the palace
sarangis made out of human bone
are played
at festivals and celebrations
though off the beat!
I know not if someone knows
that human blood is offered on the altar
and children’s juvenile lips
are counted among delicious meals
and the palace
blushes, swimming in a pool of blood
amidst embellishments
catered by the skulls of ancestors
and the pictures of unknown meteors and comets.
Yes, that is the beauty of the palace!
In every file of the court
each of us might verify–
he has cases filed against consciousness
and prisons offer him a witness!
These days
notified for an earthquake shortly
he gawks around.
In the midst of our settlement
he exhibits strange behaviors.
Yes, he shows different demeanors.
sarangi: a typical Nepali harp
Trans: Mahesh Paudyal
[Matrika Pokharel is a poet and storywriter of high repute. A writer of the progressive cult, he has six books to his credit, which include poetry collections Seto Durbarko Chheuchhau, Yatrako Euta Drishya, Anuharharoo and Gham Jhulkinu Aghi, and Mitratako Aakash and a story collection Santrasta Aankhaharoo. Besides writing, he has a long experience of editing several literary periodical including Samakalin Sahitya, a prestigious prose-publication of Nepal Academy. An active literary and culture activist, Pokharel was the an Academic Council Member of Nepal Academy, Chairman of Progressive Writers Association; Vice-chairman of United People’s Cultural Federation; Secretary, Progressive Cultural Organization; Member Secretary, Parijat Memorial Centre, Treasurer of Indreni Cultural Society and member of several other organizations including Joint Forum of Democratic Writers, Nepali Literary Journalists Association, and Ghanashyam Dhakal Cultural Foundation. Mr. Pokharel has received several awards and felicitations including Manuscript award for Anuharharoo by Dhaulagiri Literary Foundation. He has represented Nepal to several countries like Bangladesh, China and India on literary missions.]