Some Last Questions (Kuch Aakhri Swaal) , By W. S. Merwin Poem by Ravi Kopra

Sir kya hai?
khaak

Aankhain kya hain?
neechay kooaoN main
vaasi rehtay hain

Paon kya hain?
neelami ho chuki hai
angootha bacha raha hai

Nahin, paoN kya hain?
un ke neechay mushkil raah hai
jis k neechay tooti gardan waala ek chua
apne naak se khoon k bantay fer raha hai

Jeeb kya hai?
deewar se gira ek kaala coat
jis ki asteen kuch kehna chahti hain

Haath kya hain?
kamaa chukay hain

Nahin, haath kya hain?
museum ki deewar se neechay utar rahay hain
apne jagDalu vilupt poorvajoN ka
rakha hua paigam paDna chatay hain


Sannata kya hai?
maano k is ko aur chup rehnay ka adhikaar hai

Hum watan k log kaun hain?
jo doosroN ki hatya kar mashoor hotay hain

***

Some Last Questions
BY W. S. MERWIN

What is the head
a. Ash
What are the eyes
a. The wells have fallen in and have
Inhabitants
What are the feet
a. Thumbs left after the auction
No what are the feet
a. Under them the impossible road is moving
Down which the broken necked mice push
Balls of blood with their noses
What is the tongue
a. The black coat that fell off the wall
With sleeves trying to say something
What are the hands
a. Paid
No what are the hands
a. Climbing back down the museum wall
To their ancestors the extinct shrews that will
Have left a message
What is the silence
a. As though it had a right to more
Who are the compatriots
a. They make the stars of bone