Who is taller they ask one another
Competing to reach the sky; rest doesn’t matter
The greenery destroyed; out of sight
Glass, bricks and stones; their unlimited height
no forest not a single tree
Development they say; I don’t agree
No fresh air to breathe
Selfish people; their selfish greed
Poor innocent creatures chased away
Not even left with their home to stay
How ugly would be to think so
Wealthy ones high and the rest low
They should get back to where they belong
Realize that they’re harming others; doing the wrong
The dark areas need more emphasis
Not to focus on what already exists
We want our healthy lives back
Greenery around shouldn’t lack
Dreaming for better lives and better future
No ugly structure but be embraced by the nature

Embraced with the farewell shine,

About to fade away;

Yet with a noticeable sign,

Reminiscing the fine day;

The gentle breeze called the silent tree

Alert were all; reluctant for the beauty to leave

How long had the wait been just for her beauty

Now she’s leaving; people afraid of the sooty

The time had to come for this depart

Leaving fearful, restless human heart

No chitter-chatter was sung by the bird

Only the howling wind to be heard

People hid themselves unable to see the awful scene

How she was being swallowed by the monster green

Nothing could be done, power not enough

To destroy the beast was impossible not just tough

The darkened night gestured a star to be born

All excited to see her again in the early morn!!!

Sometimes it makes me wonder

What must be behind the valley of myth?

Is it just the unholy thunder?

That we have to get along with

Or could the wonders of heaven

Brought down for the peace of mind

Ah! Must be the reason for it to be hidden

And left undiscovered for us to find

Lonely I am, deaf I stand in the crowd

lips zipped heart beating loud

Some changes didn’t suit me well

Tired of trying; difficult to dwell

Get horrified as the past haunts

Wait to be on my own; the time that counts

People surround; not a smile on my face

Upset I am it’s a different case

It ain’t no love or a broken heart

It simply isn’t me right now; but a different part

I dreamt; it came into reality

How I wish this’d last for eternity

I ain’t the one I was before

I left the wickedness ashore

Feared I’d drown yet I swam

Crossed the ocean and here I am

The journey so fine nothing to fuss

Or mutter a single word harming us

The demons of the ocean still haunt me today

Bravely fight with the bad and get away

…………………………………………………….

Trying to gather the words

they seem to be falling apart

hoping it wont get worse

I get back to the start

yet to inspire me they tell

though my stupid writings dont go well

I write some lines and then erase

get lost in my word maze

again i sit and think think think

some words to srtike my mind that’d link

the same words repeat

the paper is ready to greet

I sit dumbfounded in front of the sheet

aware of nothing but the heartbeat

the door opens; distracts me

he comes over not a word can he see

confused; he stares at what I write

the blank page before me empty and white

holds my chin with a smile in his face

“i know you can do it, you’ll win the race”

and then he leaves; shuts the door

whatever I write he’ll always adore

he praises though I write real bad

I feel glad he’s beside; I love my dad!

…………………………………………………………..

Somewhat like a fairy tale,

I dream on, and wish it won’t fail

Success is what I look upon

It feels awesome, just Dream on!

I wanna rise and shine

Like a true star, so fine

I don’t limit my dream just till the sky

I dream on! I wanna reach high

People around don’t bother much

They say only in fairy tales are such

I nod my head; I know it’ll come true

A day will come when all will be blue

The dream is that keeps me alive

The wonderful imagination, the wonderful life

They think I’m crazy, but I don’t turn

I live my life and just DREAM ON…

Well once I’d been taught during one of our “Traffic weeks” that we should be walking on the right side of the road. But we were taught to walk from the left hand side of the road during our school. Since then I realized that our course books were wrong. Well, not exactly wrong, but wrong in the case of our traffic rules, because we follow the British textbooks and in United Kingdom they have right hand driving system which is totally opposite of ours. So this led to confusion in everyone. I try to explain it to all my friends and family but only few seem to understand what I mean. It could save one from an accident. As we, here in “Nepal” follow left hand driving so it’s obvious that we should be walking from the opposite side that is from our right hand side. Our lanes being small, people need to obey these rules in order to avoid accidents to some extent. At least you tend to see what is coming before you and you can prevent yourself being hit by those speedy rowdy vehicles.

That is what I learnt and I try letting everyone around me know that fact. Hope people take it into consideration. Because I now that I am right, this small fact should be considered. You can see those roughly driven public transports along the road they seem to be aiming to run into other vehicles and killing people, carrying more than enough passengers. I felt it should not be neglected cause I hardly see anyone obeying traffic rules (mostly the pedestrians), they don’t use zebra crossing, neither do they use the overhead bridges, nor walk from the right side of the road. Moreover, this could lead to accidents if there are no footpaths along the road (though exceptions are there like the”Ratnapark kanda”). What I meant is that to lessen accidents to some extent the pedestrians should obey the rules too but not only blame the vehicles riders/drivers.

Written by: Ashma Aryal (a.k.a. azm)

As I look before me I find our cultures fading day by day. We ourselves don’t seem to be interested in neither our culture nor the festivals that we celebrate. Last week on Christmas I got some sms from my friends and family wishing me a merry Christmas. At first I was glad to receive those text messages but, later realized that they hadn’t wished me a happy Dashain or happy Dipawali, those festivals that are supposed to be the major festivals for us “Hindus”. Moreover, all of my friends are Hindus, and as far as I know no one celebrates Christmas. Honestly, I didn’t like their act so I didn’t reply to any of their messages. It’s not that I’m being racist and trying to tell my fellowmen to follow only Hinduism. I do respect all religions, all cultures and all festivals. But what I’m trying to say is that, if people do believe in all religions why don’t they wish a happy “Idd” or a happy “Dashain” or a happy “Dipawali” or a happy “budhha purnima” or in any other major festivals celebrated worldwide. Why only “CHIRSTMAS”?? Is it so important to all of us that we forget our own customs and traditions? Why all of us are being attracted to the western culture? It is good to respect other cultures, we should even get together and celebrate other festivals but it’s not that we have to give up our own customs.

If this trend doesn’t stop, then in no time we will be left nowhere with every one blindly following the westerners. I never meant that celebrating Christmas is bad. It’s good, it’s great. But the thing I tried to say in this is that; love your culture, follow your traditions, and respect other festivals that you don’t celebrate as well. Don’t just neglect Idd because you’re not an Islam, don’t neglect Christmas if you’re not a Christian, and other religious festivals as well. If you respect Brahma-Vishnu-Maheshwor, do respect Christ, Allah, Buddha and other gods as well. It’s not that one is supposed to follow only their culture; we have the right to celebrate each and every culture but following some culture blindly forgetting our own isn’t good.

Written by:

Ashma Aryal (a.k.a azm)

You’re a beautiful melody

Playing in my heart set all over me

I’d hear you over and over again

On a sunny day or in the heavy rain

You’re a music that sooths my heart

With the perfect node and the perfect start

You’re the perfect song to be sung

Having the best rhyme to get along

I’d love to hear you all the time

Feeling glad that you’re mine

The rhythm, the bass and the drums that beat

You’re the song I’d always repeat

I’d try to play something new

The song still says I LOVE YOU!!!!