Against Darkness Poem by Matrika Pokharel

Darkness came following me from behind;
I kept running, and moved farther
with a trust, even graver.
He went charging upon me,
from a distance
that uniformly separated us;
he kept bombarding me
with gun, sword and shells.

As I was falling in the dark
unable to find my way
along slopes, cliffs and caves
I got a piece of candle
and lighted.
Deterred, darkness
held back in fear!
That day I came to know
darkness fears lamps
and runs away from light!

Hitherto, I didn't run away from darkness;
rather, looked for light around-
lights of various kinds
to stand against darkness
and then, as dauntless I stood
he could no longer chase me off.
With a lamp in hand
while I spotted the lane
to retrieve my loss dignity
he kept away from me.
I aired the news to all
and since then
along with my kinsmen
I have set out
with lamps in hand
in search of light!

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