by Keshab Sigdel
During the prayer
to God
I said,
‘I have nothing to offer
but my dreams.’
God was not assured.
Hundreds of devotees
queue up everyday
at least with a basket of flowers,
a few incense sticks,
and a coin or two.
I saw no reason
why God should be unhappy
with me, and with them all.
To God, I said again,
‘I have nothing to offer
but my faith.’
God showed no sign of assurance.
I was hurt
because God, my last refuge,
abruptly dismantled.
In bewilderment,
silently,
I walked away.
To my surprise,
a few minutes later,
God called me
and said,
‘you become God
and I your devotee;
I want to dream,
to wish,
to pray,
And to hear you answer them all.’
Joy suffused my body,
but a dilemma lurked
behind the euphoria
of unexpected achievement.
To myself,
I mumbled,
“If I become God
there will be none to grant my wishes.’
I found myself alone,
sorrow filled my body again,
and I changed my mind.
To God
finally I said,
‘I don’t want to become God,
I shall always remain a devotee
whose prayers are answered,
not answered.’
Dec. 27, 2008
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ABOUT THE POET ~
Born on 11 July 1979 in Bardiya, Nepal, Mr. Keshab Sigdel is an MA, MPhil in English literature and has also studied law. Currently, he is the assistant professor of English at Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. He also works as the General Secretary of the Literary Association of Nepal, an organization of University teachers, and also the Vice President of the Society of Nepali Writers in English. He also active as a human rights activist and had worked as the National Vice President of Amnesty International in Nepal. His first anthology of poems "Samaya Bighatan" (Time Under Dissolution) was published in 2007 and and his recent publication is "Six Strings" (a joint anthology of poems in English). He is also the editor of "Of Nepalese Clay", a literary magazine of the Society of Nepali Writers in English. His literary works are included in University curriculum and school level text books in Nepal. He can be reached at keshab.sigdel@gmail.com
Last updated May 24, 2019