LETTER FROM FOREIGN GRAVE

The present poem ‘Letter From Foreign Graver’ is composed by a Nepali poet and writer in English, D.B. Gurung. He is also called a born (intuitive/natural) poet. His poems blend ethos (      culture) of the Napali society with the emotions of a poet.

The present poem is a letter written by a dead Gorkhali British soldier from the foreign grave to his mother in Nepal. The poem has depicted the reality of Gorkhali British soldier in foreign land. It requests us not to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of other. It teaches us to live in total harmony in a community as everyone should do it after his/her death.

In the poem, the son asks his mother not to be sad in his absence because he is fine in the valley of shadows and he is free from all mundane avarice (greed), misery and tears. He is resting now in peace forever. He still clearly remembers the painful and sorrowful moment of his departure when the black cloud over the valley and his dog Pangry’s whimper, wagging its tail, were clearly predicting that it was the departure forever. He also remembers his mother damping up her tears welling up in her eyes and blessing ‘To be always brave’. He says that he was deputed to different war fronts. Until the bullet pierced his heart he was regarded as a hero.

<a title="walking holidays" href="http://walksoftheworld.com">walking holidays</a>

Now, his fate is ruined. It is confined within foreign grave because he is no more now. He is buried among his friends and his enemies. They have everything common there. They live in total harmony in a community of true brotherhood. He requests his mother not to weep because his war is over and he has no risk of the gunshots and shells. He also makes a heart touching remark that though the expression “Ayo Gorkhali’’ was used to frighten the enemy, it had snatched away lots of Gorkhalis’ lives. Slow fat generals are making medals on young Gorkhalis’ blood.

Finally, he asks his mother to forgive him because he could not make up for her milk ducking his lifetime and he sacrificed his life for the cause of others in a war of no glory. So, he requests her not to weep for him but remunerate for those who are still involved in wars.