Phulman Bal
When, I knew of time
for the first time
time acted as though
it knew not a bit about me
Second time
when I cautioned him
he closed his eyes ins tead
and acted to be sleeping
Third time
I hated time
but then,
he stood grinning
without any shame
After that
I frayed out
the face to time
crushed, and flung it away.
[Bal is a poet, storywriter and filmmaker. He is associated with Kantipur Publications.]