By Usha Sherchan
Pour bottles of curses into my soul
Spill bottles of accusations
over my heart
I, Cleopatra, will drink the disrespect
I, Cleopatra, will drink the disgust
I, Cleopatra, will drink the disdain
Like an expert, with ease
I drink my pain down with bottles of alcohol
Like an expert, with ease
I drain my worries into its intoxication
Please continue pouring
an endless stream
of alcohol into the opening
that is my mouth
Please continue emptying
bottles of alcohol—in a steady stream
lifting the lid of my chest
Perhaps you will get tired of yourself, but
I will never tirePerhaps you will lose with yourself, but
I will never lose
I am found guilty with the taste of alcohol
I am wounded in its intoxication
I salute cocktail parties
I kiss bottles of alcohol
I am in love with the merry sounds of “Cheers!”
My eyes don’t want to look
at the laughter of society
My ears don’t want to understand
the languages of society
I am a dishonor to the eyes of society
I am an example for the gossip of society
I am an explosion in the secrets of society
I am a rebel against the beliefs of society
I am a criminal in the laws of society
I am a beautiful mistake in the creations of society
Translated by Muna Gurung
[Usha Sherchan (b. 1955) is a poet and lyricist of great fame in Nepal. She came in contact with writers in Pokhara in her early teens, and has been publishing since then. Her published works include anthologies of quatrains, poems, songs, short stories and a novel, Aadhi. She lives in Kathmandu.]