Three Poems by Abhay K
Basantpur
Where Bhairav, the dark lord of time
plays hide and seek
with ever fluttering birds
and beasts
where lovers seek shelter
on stepped paradise
under brick-red roofed pagodas
embracing the skies
where the living virgin goddess
looks longingly
at tantric sculptures
carved on wooden beams
where crimson Hanuman
guards the heavenly gate
to the evergreen coronation square
I am Basantpur —the city of eternal spring.
Swayambhunath
A lotus blossoms
no longer submerged
in the ancient lake
Petals young, sparkling
my eight eyes
— the eight-fold path
of cessation of suffering—
blessing sentient beings
Climb three hundred and sixty five steps
then thirteen steps clockwise
As Manjusri, break free
from the bondage of the world.
Pashupatinath
With my consort Parvati
I galloped
on the banks of Bagmati
as a golden deer every dawn
Now I live behind silver doors
in a tiered pagoda
of wood and copper
topped with gold gajur
People worship me
as the lord of beasts and gods
I am the great gratifier of wishes
the saviour of this sacred land.
*
Lord of animals, men and gods
do you still gallop with Parvati
as golden deer
along the banks of Bagmati
or have you returned to Mount Gaurishankar
seeing what have we done to Bagmati
Do you still offer your blessings
to whoever seeks you out
Have you returned to Kailash Mansarovar?
or has it melted away
Tell us lord, have you left the Earth
for the other worlds ?
Abhay K is an Indian poet-diplomat and the author of two memoirs and six poetry collections including The Seduction of Delhi(Bloomsbury). He is the editor of the poetry anthology Capitals. He has received the SAARC Literary Award and nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His Earth Anthem has been translated into twenty-four languages across the globe.
