Dilip Qunwar

Bearing the science of the soil
from any place in the earth’s geography
can an earthworm be born
and crawl on
in its life’s trappings.

It can emerge from any muddy field
and engage in  tête-à-tête
with the tiny roots of paddy,
from any receding pond it can be born
and standing on the edge
measure its own length,
from any farmland it can be born
and read-
the manuscript of pristine fiction written with sweat.

From any crypt in the jungle it can be born
and watch a grave- of countless leaves,
From any waterspout can it be born
and grow apprehensive- seeing thirsty people,
From any garden it can be born
and smile- beholding myriad flowers,
From any home’s front-yard it can be born

and leap up joyfully- watching children at play

But wherever from it might have been born
when the sunlight shall fall on its delicate back
murmuring the dirge of death, it shall
for the last time… copulate with the mud
and give birth to… thousands other earthworms of existence.

Which shall prove
that a mere gob of a beautiful idea
can plant in thousands of minds
the embryo of awareness.

(Translated from the Nepali original by Roshan Koirala)