Bimal Nibha

Timepiece

The killer has withdrawn
from the scene of oppression,

leaving behind
a sea of silences,

a confluence
of items elemental.

Some of the items had special significance
like the dagger, the terror and the timepiece.

The dagger lay splashed in gore,
its terror deep, quivering inwards.

No one knew what time
of the day the piece had on its quaking fingers.

The mob swarmed
and panic choked the alphabets

of innocence
chalked on its escalating face.

But most memorable thing
that remained was that timepiece ‘s wild screech

because caged in its blood vessels
was the ravaging pulse of the time to come.

Translated from the Nepali by Yuyutsu Sharma

Bimal Nibha

Born in Nepalgunj in 1953, Bimal Nibha was brought up and educated in a small town Birgunj on Nepal India border. During his early years he became associated with Leftist politics and published his first collection, Aagonira Ubhiyeko Manis (Men near Fire).  He played an active role in 1990 Democratic movement and staged several protests including Black Ribbon Protest to restore freedom of speech and restoration of democracy in Nepal. He was briefly arrested. Since then he has published one more poetry collection and contributes a weekly column of political satire to Kantipur, Nepal’s leading vernacular daily. He lives in Kathmandu.

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