Poshan Pandey
The fight was between gods and demons
it was about churning the deeps
and about elixir and poison.
Why should that wanderer alone
drink all the poison
deliberately…?
Why should that wanderer,
having failed to calm the burn in his chest
haunt the hills from tops to tops…?
Why should be loaf naked,
when that many robes were at his disposal
embellished with jewels…?
Behold, till now
people pour water, pitcher after pitcher
upon his head, and chant,
“Hara Hara Mahadev
Hara Hara…”
But will the lamp of genesis
keep burning
till the burn in his chest is calmed?
Translated by Padma Devkota
Poshan Pandey, known to the Nepali literary world as a strong storywriter on psychosexual subject, is also a forceful poet. Internal waves of life ripple out in his poetry. Pandey was born on 14 January 1933 in Kathmandu, and started writing in a young age. His first published work was ‘Jalan’ (Burning) that appeared in Sharada in 1948. Till date, his published works include Aankhi Jyal (Pin-hole Window), Manas (Conscience), Hiunma Pareka Dobharu (Footmarks that Fell on the Snow) — all collection of stories. Batabrikshako Udghatan (Inaguration of the Banyan Tree) and Manasa (Musings) are his poetry collections. He also edited a magazine Jana Sahitya. For his contributed Pandey received Nepal Academy Medal Ratnashri Gold Medal, Gorkha Dakshinbahu (For his contribution to literature) Siddhi Charan Kavya Award and Mahendra Pragya Award. He died on 20 April 1991.