Topic: Village and Trees - By Manjul (English Translation)

[kurakani]

Innocence

The village looks at me from untutored eyes,
but the shadow of knowledge is there.

I look back with eyes of the scholar
but the shadow of ignorance is there.

If our knowing and unknowing meet
what an indescribable thing will be born!

I prefer its gaze to my own.

[kurakani]

Bridge

When the heart has been shattered
and the river of tears has flowed
how can the bridge
between the two banks stand?

In two of the biggest boulders
holes must be drilled,
a cable inserted and bound.
On both banks pits must be dug,
and the boulders buried there,
covered with other stones,
and a wall of mud and rock erected.

Will that suffice?
And then sometimes everything has to be plastered with cement as well.

When the heart of the land has been shattered
and the river of tears has flown,
to hold the bridge that joins the banks,
we need moorings
stronger
than the bridge.

[kurakani]

The Dance

When you take someone's hand
mountains on the horizon join,
when you laugh
a breeze quivers,
when you walk
a murmuring stream flows.

It's not you
dancing on the mountain ridge,
the ridge dances
dancing dances,

smiling--there is sun
serious--shadows come: you become the mountain.

Farewell

leaving the village
walking the path of tears

going on ahead
you feel the village following
glancing back
you feel your self left behind

leaving the village
walking the path of tears

leaves
seem to speak
when you sit
heavy hearted
lost at every resting spot
leaving the village
walking the path of tears

looking over the river
you feel your self has reached the opposite bank
then having crossed
your self is abandoned on the bank behind

while the real is imaginary
you imagine the real
leaving the village
walking the path of tears

Remembering

I'm being played on the village flute,

from Pinky's eyes
I'm watching
the demonic village night,

as Phurba grips the harrow's handle
I'm plowing the pungent soil,

darling, don't be angry
that I'm not now bound in your embrace,
darling, don't worry
that I'm not held between your lips,

while Birados plays the tungna
I'm leafing
through the layers of his feeling,

I'm being played on the village flute,

though for six days and six nights
Kanchi Tamang cowered in the jungle,
sleeping hungry
hiding in the rocks,she was made to marry.
Becoming her,
I'm swallowing tears of hate,
spitting on the name "wife"
they forced her to take,

I'm being played on the village flute,

from Yangdorje's eyes
I'm watching
not just the present
but the future of grandsons, great grandsons,
In Nasir Tamang's song
I'm rising, spreading,

I'm being played on the village flute.