The Old Teacher

translated from original Nepali by Mukul Dahal
 

Why does this old teacher
make me pull my ears,
and stand up and squat down?
Why does he make me kneel down
and bark repeatedly an order
to parrot ' the earth is round' ?

Do look at him -
how old glasses he has worn !
How old eyes
that cannot see a new world !

How old ears
which do not hear new sound!
Disgusting to see,
how old moustache !

His face itself is old.
shoes are old
mind is old.
why does this antique man
points at me with duster,
chalk,
stick
and asks me
all antique questions?

I am tense.
Why didn't he shave his beard?
Why his body smells sweat?
Why is his head bald?
Why does he turn toward the black board
and coughs continually?
Why did he become a teacher
and not anything else?

This teacher who resembles an old truck
makes all the noise himself
and forces me to be quiet.
asks his questions
and doesn't listen to mine.
Writes something on the black board repeatedly.
And why does he rub?

For sure, he is feeding
me some slow poison.
He is scribbling some antique
letters in my mind
erasing new thoughts.

Am I at school or a poultry form?
Am I in a classroom or a cell?
Am I in this beautiful world or a slaughterhouse?

Otherwise, why my father too
sides with him and shouts at me?
friends !
I won't do homework now.
I won't mug up the formula.
I won't answer to any of the teacher's questions.
I won't stand up and squat down.
I won't adhere to any of the commands
and instruction of discipline.
I am tense now.
I want to walk out.

Breaking apart the blackboard
that stands in front of me,
I walk off right from here.

©Biplop Dhakal 2006