The Beast (extract)

Laxmi Prasad Devkota


Man might be trampled and crushed,
who cares?
Eyes are red with rippling might
Mind’s filled with billion atoms
of fuming rage
Explosive are the sounds, fatal
in follies rooted
Why should I heed to the world—
a feeder of turf I am.
I am a crooked tomcat
I am a beast.

Pity is a weakness
so, bellow! bellow!
until babies fear their birth
and the earth in terror squirm
I puke fire; roast civilization
grilling them all
for, I am a beast,
hark, I roar!

Trans: Mahesh Paudyal