Wish
He was born first
then, gradually,
his wishes
He wanted
to cook rice
in a pot as big as the sky
And feed
all the hungry of the earth
He wanted to ask with loving gratitude
wool from the sheep
and wanted to knit
one sweater each
for those trembling in the cold
He wanted
even to borrow
rocks from the mountain
water from the cloud
and soil from the land
to build a huge house
where all who did not have home
could find a space of their own
For quite a few days
now and then
He had kept on wishing like this
News of his wish
One day reached to the emperor
The emperor became angry
and began to roar
‘In my state
It is a crime to have such wishes
Arrest the rebel
and bring to my court!’
He was brought before the emperor
The emperor said sternly
‘You are guilty
of harboring dangerous wishes
Now be ready to die
Tell me what is your last wish?’
He replied with a matching defiance
‘My last wish
is my very first wish
the second wish
the third wish’
Hearing this the emperor
Became even more angry
And ordered
‘Hang him to death!’
He was killed eventually.
After a few days of his murder
The emperor went in a procession
Nearing the place where he was killed The emperor was taken aback
his wishes were alive there
Where he was hanged
breathing
moving
Seeing this the emperor
Became mad with rage
And started shouting
Kill them, destroy these wishes
But despite all efforts
Even after using
elephants, horses, spears, swords
armies, canons
wishes could not be killed
All were tired
commander, courtiers, spies and soldiers
and accepted defeat
Mourning on this failure
the emperor died
Having said this
My father became silent
I asked
Is this the end of story?
Taking a deep breath
He said
Yes, son
This story ends here
But his wish has not ended
Even now one can see
his wishes there
where he was murdered
Alive and full of optimism
Spreading all over the places
Wishes walking on
Wishes marching ahead
Becoming many from one
Innumerable uncountable number of wishes
Son, his wish
Is still alive today
Wishes never die
Wishes can never be erased
Has not the radiance of that wish
Reached to you too?
(Translated by Mahesh Maskey / 19-12-2021)
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