Jaljala Poem by Matrika Pokharel

Faith happened to blossom
even on the hilltop
and belief even on the summit.
Hand in hand with you
people happened to play
lovely games with death
as they do with sun and moon
as they do with clouds and fogs.
Jaljala!
You are after all a hill
one among thousands in my country.
But, you stand out
and I have heard songs about you
and many a time
when the sky clears its veils
when crimson turns the sky
I have turned to the west
and imagined:
Jaljala would look the same!

Jaljala
you ought to widen your lap
for, the way is still quite long
days are still afar
before we dance
arm-in-arm with the moon.

We must not be carried away
by fireflies we meet on the way
venomous hands are groping for you
from all around.
You have a fountain of life
enshrined in your bosoms
and an Everest
inside your heart.

Jaljala,
lately
a desire has besieged me
to mount atop you
and look east
and write lyrics in your name
till hearts ache deep within.

Youths
are making their way homeward
from lands far away from home
with crippled bodies
and are gazing at your height.
They must be taught
to live here, at home.

Melting like wax
at the quackery of brokers
daughters are moving in processions
to lands abroad
with mirages of great future harbored within
but doomed to burn
in blazes of carnal ravenosity!
They must be taught
of life at home.

Jaljala!
After a kiss of your summit
these days
a desire has swelled in me
to paint the face of Rana Kanchha anew
to emboss the countenance of Bindu Tharu anew!

Jaljala-
a hill that strives to change the future
you are assaulting the present!
I too have conceived
the village now as a ruin.
Like your bright eyes
I have seen the village burning.
Making your way
through the Mahabharata
you ought to be moving
towards my village
and stretch towards my county
crossing the Chure.
I will be stating witness against the present
I too will be nurturing a dream
in this village that is all but ruined
I shall, from the gutted village
pursue for a future
glorious and bright!

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