Bindu Sharma
Translated from Nepali by Hem Bishwakarma
Listen, Oh Man!
I weigh as light as silk-cotton of Simal tree[1]
As I’ve given birth to a dream.
Fastening a muslin Patuki[2]
Around an empty cave-womb
I hope to flutter with an aromatic breeze
I hope to knit the gleams of Venus to the old eyes.
I hope to lie down next to him
Decorating the moon of Dwitiya[3] on hair
Moistening the dried lips with hilarity.
Listen, Oh Man!
Let dazzling sunflowers bloom under the pillow
Keep the aroma of Jasmine on the bed
Keep filling the pleasant tune on the flute
Buzz the entire room with a merry melody
As pigeons’ cooing
I wish to portray a rainbow welcoming rain and the sun
I want to glisten anointing the Bukuwa[4]
Receiving the soft pistils on my fingers
Touch him gently.
And assemble in me the blaze of firepot for him.
Listen, Oh Man!
I forgive your every fault
I dim every hatred gap with the warmth of life.
I rinse the antipathy with the blood of affection—
Emanating from my body
To unfasten my hair restraint for years
To wake up the unvoiced desires in the heart
Like a shirphool[5] on a bride’s hair.
To fill up the sound to the pledged speech
To blossom, my heart faded like an autumn flower
I’ve given birth to a dearest dream I had for years
In the numbness of dark
In the dreadful solitude
With the soft dawn of the Eastern breeze
I have unveiled a sheaf of rays
Listen, Oh Man!
I weigh as light as cotton of Simal tree
I’ve given birth to a novel dream— a daughter
Powerful to lift the earth up as a mother.
…
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[1] Bombax Ceiba, an Asian tropical tree.
[2] A cotton waistband, worn by Nepali women
[3] Second day in the Lunar fortnight of the Hindu Calendar.
[4] The scented powder is usually composed of turmeric, mustard-seed powder and oil; used to anoint the body.
[5] A golden flower-shaped ornament used by women.
Dr Bindu Sharma is a poet and Asst. Lecturer in R.R. Campus, Nepal. She has two books, ‘Okkal Dokkal Pipal Paat‘ and ‘Samakalin Nepali Kabitama Samabeshikaran‘ in her credit.
