After each “I” in “us” – A Poem from Nepal

 

Sushant Thapa

A poet from Biratnagar, Nepal holds a Master’s degree in English literature from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. He has published three books of poetry namely: The Poetic Burden and Other Poems (New Delhi, 2020), Abstraction and Other Poems (UK, 2021) and Minutes of Merit (Kolkata, 2021). Sushant has been published in several national and international newspapers and magazines. His work has also appeared in national and International anthologies. One of his poems is included in the Paragon English book for Grade 6 students in Nepal. He teaches Business English to students of BBA and BIT at Nepal Business College, Biratnagar, Nepal. Sushant recently recited his poem “The Poetic Burden” in Kalinga Literary Festival, 2022, Kathmandu, Nepal.

After each “I” in “us”

The lone subjectivity

Once a tool of worship, 

The spontaneity, a new name of rhyme.

The waking eyes

Hung over with the content night.

The curtain of brilliance

Showcases the world at its rise. 

To cherish the day, 

The ‘I’ in you, let it rest.

We have to sail together

In the river of belongingness.

Slowly you know the we in us

The shared wine of loneliness

It tastes better now,

After sharing each “I” in us. 

Wake up to the shared night.

The unborn dreams,

Flickering in the rain are reminded

Of warm embrace, and

The sailor of invited time.

We can dance

On the musical spell of love

That has made us one; 

Forget lovingly

The story of multitudes.

___________________