Wayne Amtzis

About the translator: Wayne Amtzis is a poet, photographer and long-time resident of Nepal. His work from Kathmandu can be seen on the website: www.photo-poems.com in the photo collection flatLine witness, in Studies in Nepali History and Society Vol. 6. 1, June 2001 and in the anthology, an other voice: English literature from Nepal. He is editor and co-translator of Two Sisters: the poetry of Benju Sharma and Manju Kanchuli, and of From The Lake, Love: the poetry of Banira Giri.
TRADITION For years a picture hung on the wall of my room Frayed, done in by insects and rats, recognizable only by those who had seen it when.. An effaced semblance demanding to be This picture worshipped by my grandmother this picture hung with pride by my mother Today, I look at it askance How long must I turn towards it? What solace am I to find there? Now, I want this picture smeared with red, effaced Let flame reach the far corners I place a lit match in its midst  Done with, done away, in its midst Benju Sharma	WHAT AM I? A black hole in space, an oasis drained of sustenance, a corpse tossed beneath a bridge on the outskirts of town? Hey, listen -- a face -- I found myself in you I embrace you and falling at your feet ask -- you must tell me "What am I?"  Am I merely a night exhausted by lightning? A thorny bush? Am I an avenging curse or the suicide’s blade? A black hole in space, an oasis drained of sustenance, a corpse tossed beneath a bridge? or a dazed massacre Tell me what am I? "What am I?" Only an instance of helplessness turned toward myself or a series each in its own right arising and ceasing going and coming? Banira Giri	THE BROTHERHOOD OF MAN Passing away if one leaves behind a kingdom Passing away if one leaves behind a cane Death is the same for both Death strips them both It empties them of life in a similar way Death makes them ashes, just ashes Their joy and grief, their pride and shame, flies off lighter than ash Yes, what a great guru death is! What a boon companion for those who seek life's meaning Death, I feel, is the door to life It's life's reward Death, only death, offers brotherhood to man Manjul

Return to Index

© 2003 Frontlist.org