भूपी शेरचन

A full ashtray
– Bhupi Sherchan

Whoever comes here
comes with blazing lips
and a heart on fire

whoever dwells here
lives with palms covered in ash
and eyes filled with smoke.

and whoever of those departs from here
walks back with broken trust
and stumped dreams

such as this
is the valley with four passages

like a cold astray, full of ashes and cigarette butts

this ditch,
with four outlets.

Translation- Himal khadka