Pramod Pradhan
I look at flowers,
and compare life with them.
A question springs within me:
why isn’t life beautiful like flowers?
The river is flowing in forceful currents,
I want to see life living like the river
a rovolt speaks within me:
why isn’t life as bright at a flame?
In fact,
I am asking myself:
Why isn’t life beautiful like flowers?
Why isn’t life agile like a river?
Why isn’t life as bright as a flame?
I am caught in a debate with myself:
Why isn’t life as exciting as a journey?
Why isn’t life melodious like music?
Why isn’t life like poetry?
Translated by Mahesh Paudyal
Poet Pramod Pradhan, who firmly believes in human primacy, is a promising poet that has announced his powerful presence in the arena of modern Nepali poetry. His poetry, crafted with exceptionally artistic lucidity are full of modest rejection at places, colorful spectrum of nature at others, and yet, discordant and chaotic beauty of life at some other places. Poet Pramod Pradhan was born on 31 October 1958 in Biratnagar, Nepal. He started writing in 1970, and got published for the first time in 1975, when Naya Sandesh, a magazine, published him. His published works include Raatbharika Suskeraharu (Sighs of the Night, poems), Bibhajit Manchhe (Divided Men, poems), Ekant Geet (Songs of Solitude, poems), Kehi Adhyayan : Kehi Anusandhan (Some Study: Some Research, collection of critical essays, 1987), Kaan Samat Kaan (Catch Your Ears, poems for children), Kanakana Kurra (poems for children), Sadhaibhari Lukamari (Hide and Seek All the Time, poems for children), Nepali Baalsahityako Itihas (History of Nepali Children’s Literature), Morangma Pratrakaritako Ardhasatabdi (Golden Jubilee of Journalism in Morang District), Nepali Baalvangmaya Parichaya Kosh (Directory of Nepali Children’s Literature), Nepali Nibandhako Itihas (History of Nepali Essay). Poet Pradhan is a recipient of Vyathit Poetry Award, Yuva Varsha Moti Award, Nepal Bal Sahitya Samaj Children’s Book Award, Sajha Children’s Literature Award etc. He lives with his family in Kathmandu.