Poetry of Flower | Kshetra Pratap Adhikary

Kshetra Pratap Adhikary; 1943 (March/April) – 14 April 2014) was a Nepali poet, writer and lyricist. Adhikari is best known as the lyricist of the song Ma Ta Laligurans Bhayechu by Narayan Gopal. Renowned singers of both the past and present generations, including Narayan Gopal, Bacchu Kailash, Ram Krishna Dhakal, Yogeshwar Amatya, Satya Raj Acharya, Kunti Moktan and Swaroop Raj Acharya have lent their voices to Adhikari's songs. His popular publications include Rahar Lagera, Pahad Dekhi Pahad Samma, Feri Euta Pariwartan, Tara Desh Rahirahecha, etc.

I know, 

You adore the poetry of flowers, 

But I cannot craft a verse 

While standing in a pond of blood.

And I know— 

You cherish the tranquil cooing of pigeons, 

But how can love-verse be carved 

If the pigeon’s coop is shattered?

You crave poems 

Of lotus blooms, 

Igniting fires in humble huts, 

Ballads of hardship, 

Forgetting Draupadi's torment. 

I was powerless to be Shakuni, 

Unable to touch your heart, 

Carving flowers from paper.

We all mourned without salt, 

Even as Mangalsens fell, 

Koshi filled the fire engine, 

As Karnali burned. 

You despised poems 

Forged in rebellion's fire 

While the nation was in crisis.

The nation battled corruption, 

Fought betrayal, 

Lost the war, 

Desperately needed a skilled pilot. 

So poetry spoke 

Eternal truths 

You did not love.

You love the poetry of flowers, 

But standing in a pond of blood, 

How can one compose 

The poetry of flowers?

Translated by Hem Bishwakarma