RULERS AND SHOES
- Chandra Gurang
The rulers,
Covering their filthy feet
With different design of shoes
Feel secure.
The shoes also
Having got to live under the ruler’s feet
Regard themselves fortunate.
They attain great pleasure
In being at their boss’ service
And being their blind followers
Intone the names of their masters.
These rulers,
In assurance of the courtier shoes
Don’t pay heed to anyone.
In the hands of abettor shoes
Fear none.
And slam kick
Upon tender dreams.
These shoes,
Tread mercilessly
On innocent lives.
And trample
The beautiful flowers of garden.
But one thing-
Whatever transgression and oppressions
These rulers carry out,
They do it only after putting on their shoes.
Without shoes, their naked feet
Cannot even traverse a single step.
Rogue Rulers!
**
Chandra Singh Gurung (1976) is an young poet of Nepal, born on 5th August 1976, currently living in Bahrain. His father Kumba Singh Gurung and mother Setu Maya Gurung live in Nepal. Graduated in Commerce from Nepal College, Kathmandu Chandra is proficient in Hindi and English besides his mother tongue. His knowledge of English has helped him translate works of some foreign poets into his mother tongue. He has also translated poems of some Nepali poets into Hindi.Chandra had coordinated the poetry readings in support of Ashraf Fayad in Nepal.
Married and blessed with two children, he is working with a contracting firm in Bahrain. He has brought out his first collection of poetry in 2007 and is working at his second collection of his poetry. He writes poetry with a heart, shrouded with an honest political sense. His poetry aims to present the un-adulterated anguish of the ‘socially conscious global citizen’ about the prevailing global socio-political-economic environment. Not elaborately clothed in allusions, his poems come direct from the core of his very being. Chandra’s poems have the potency to glide smoothly to the readers making them take a closer look at the environment and society we are in. His recently published poetry book under the title, ‘UskoMutubhitraDeskoNaxaNaiThiena’ (His heart did not have country’s map), is a perfect evidence for the poet’s ability to reach out to the audience.
The ‘Rulers and Shoes’ presents the poet’s
sharp narration formulated by his painful observation of the real world around
him. The denouement of the poem is easy to understand, and that increases
the readers’ enjoyment manifold. Really, Chandra does
not write for his self-satisfaction, but for the sake of nation, society and
humanity at large.
The Poet’s remarks on “Rulers and shoes”
“I write in my native language Nepali,
this poem is the translation of my original work. This
poem is included in my first anthology published in the year 2007. During that
time Nepal was ruled by undemocratic King Gyanendra. The main
political parties were agitating against the autocratic regime. The Maoists
insurgents were fighting against government forces with their demands of
writing a new constitution. Later, Maoists Leaders agreed to accept the
democratic process ending Nepalese Civil War and join other political parties
to fight with the autocracy of King Gyanendra. During that time, human rights
violations were at high numbers. This poem was written then.”
**
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