The Callous Walls Poem by Geeta Tripathee

You taunted
the gentle zephyr;
You taunted
the flickering fire.

The zephyr stood at once
Whispered in the fire's ears;
The zephyr remained no more zephyr only
The fire remained no more fire only.

How long can you taunt
The hurricane and the firestorm?

Fence it off
as far as you wish;
Raise it up
as high as you wish;
Yet, you are safe no more.
The callous walls
you have raised
are going to collapse
under your very eyes.

***


(Translated from Nepali by Chiranjivi Baral)