KUMA RAJ SUBEDI

 

The Loneliness

Of A Long Distance Runner

 

He writes-

"I am not a journey

But a long-wide road itself,

Stride across-

Should you wish!

 

I am not a sight

That millions capture

And decor in paintings,

But an artist myself

Chill me-

Should you wish!

 

I am not a taste

But an ingredient

For a delicacy of your taste

Use it-

Should you wish!

 

I am not a music

But an instrument itself

Tune it –

In your melody

Should you wish!

 

I am not a journeyman's umbrella

But a free-standing tree

Undisturbed by the harsh weather

Take a shelter-

Should you wish!

 

I am not a blood

That serves purpose

Of writing your name

That goes dry

But heart itself

Beats until the last breath

Feel it-

Should you wish!

 

I am not a fragrance

But an incense itself

Who would burn for your sake

Until the end

Watch it-

Should you wish!"

 

She opens the letter

Sitting on a green pasture

And replies him back-

"Accept me,

A long-distance runner,

If I could ever be yours!"

 

Darling Harbour

 

Desperate to breathe-

Like a thirsty bird flying over a ravaging fire-

Lovers harbour their beloved –

In selfies and shots

On the lap of Darling Harbour.

 

Merchants' and sailors' footprints

Trodden pages of history in chips and cracks

Ever-rising skyscrapers, on the foundation of toils and hardships

Trumpet the success of immigrants –

 

Be it chilling past or mesmerising present

Darling Harbour surpasses the sorrows

Down to dusk and till eternity-

In every page of a life lived

Like a runner bean vines

Towering hopes on its slopes.

 

Waters tranquil and breeze as gentle as stares

In unison with vessels,

Dreams anchored to shores

Unweathered by the surged waves-

The Great Depression.

 

The chirping of ravens, silver gulls and rainbow lorikeets

Amalgamate the memories of times-

Seen and unseen recreation-

The popular culture.

 

Shooting Stars

 

Generations of ancestors

Look down from the skies

To watch their predecessors

And shed astral tears

In bewilderment

Upon seeing the beautiful turn ugly.

 

Stars do not melt

Nor do they freeze

They can barely fall

And they embrace self-demolition

In utter dismay

Before hitting the ground.

 

Toil and labour that are taken over by

Fraudulence and plundering

Unity and harmony

Replaced with hatred and bigotry

Perhaps the stars suffocate

As they drop their astral ashes.

 

When the realm of

Snow-capped mountains and green pastures

Gets littered with vain words and vile deeds

The Buddha's half-open eyes at Swayambhu

Stare till the ominous first crow of a rooster

Urging them to stop their self-annihilation.

 

Sleepless nights

On the cremation grounds of Pashupatinath

Only resort left to adore the shine

Hymns and prayers each morning sent

Let the culprits wake up

From slumber of steep, slight

Into the heavenly hallway of harmony.

KUMA RAJ SUBEDI

 

KUMA RAJ SUBEDI, MA in English and American literature, is a lecturer at Tafe SA, South Australia. His numerous creations have been featured in both print and online magazines, periodicals, journals and anthologies such as Misty Mountain Review, Indian Periodical, Indian Review, Muse India, Spills words Press, The Gorkha Times, Of Nepalese Clay, just to name a few. He often writes about nature, environment, love, politics, religion, women’s suffering, and childhood memories. Reading poetry is his pass time activity.