Beautiful and serene

That’s what I used to call that place

That’s where I used to pull up my thought’s train

Watching its beauty and grace

Watching pigeons feed

Staring at the masterpiece temples

I didn’t need earphones to

accompany me

Watching Indra Jatra and all

I grew up in that place.

While writing poems

I used to fall short of words to

describe it

It was more than beautiful

Sounds of bell and birds chirping

They were music to my ears

It represented the city, Kathmandu

that held our culture tightly

We were connected to it.

Durbars and temples

Big bell that used to ring every

morning at 9 o’clock

It was a place where I used to forget my troubles

But now it all seems dull

As its ashes lay down on the ground

Some wounded, some turned

into dust

And some crying for rescue

It breaks my heart as I watch

it helplessly.

Our cultures and heritages

That stood there for ages

Were taken away by an earthquake

It took all that it could

Bathing with blood of humans

That nerve wrecking smell

I can still smell it after 11 days

And it gives me goose bumps.

It left us grieving with memories

Stealing our ornaments

Leaving disaster and fear behind

We never thought we’ll lose it

Until we really did.

But look at what we are left with

right now

A lesson that we should have

preserved it

A hope that we can build back what we lost

A responsibility to maintain

Nepal’s pride

A courage to bounce back stronger than before

And hands in hands to work for it.

And show what we can do

Together we can, and we will

If we don’t do, who else will?

I believe, it’ll stand again where it used to be

And one day, with smile and pride in our face we’ll see

Kathmandu Durbar Square back on its feet

And we’ll once again be able to say

Our heritage, our pride