कविता: फरक यति हो by अभिराज खाती अन्जान, with its English Translation by Sushant Thapa

 

 

 

The Only Difference

 

In an aircraft,

I went to the toilsome foreign land.

And in an aircraft I have returned—but

There is a difference.

While going,

I was seated comfortably,

I saw jolly sceneries on the way,

I ate delicacies and talked sweet,

I even foretold the sermons of bright future.

When returning,

My eyes are shut now forever,

I have returned like a never awaking

Silent one in a deep slumber, my aspirations

All dead.

Relatives came to see me off

At the airport

When I went.

They have come to greet me

Even when I come today;

The only difference is that

When I went

They came to see me off with promises

And hopes to see me soon, and enjoy.

They had waved me the last goodbye.

I have retuned but I will never be able to

Speak and see those relatives again.

My old father had told me:

My youngest son—if I die

Come soon to burn me with

The cremation fire.

Oh father, I have returned

But not to cremate you into ashes,

But to cremate myself into ashes, by you.

Even when I went

There were tears in my sweetheart’s eyes,

The only difference is that

I could wipe those tears when I was leaving,

Now, I cannot.

I could speak with her before,

Now I cannot.

She had told me to come soon as I left,

I came soon, but the only difference is that

I was alive when I went,

Now, I am a corpse.

 

Bio of the Poet: Poet Abhiraj Khati Anjan (अभिराज खाती अन्जान),  is from Makwanpur, Nepal. He currently lives in Kathmandu. 

 

Note: This poem is translated into English by Sushant Thapa, Assistant Editor of Himalaya Diary.