You Thief

by Laishram Ratan 

You thief
You amaze us
You frighten us
We abhor you.

Today
We heard your name
We know your nature
Your allies are numerous
Impossible to take you to justice.

But
Heh! You thief
Never be conceived in another womb
Begone beyond the human sphere
Cannot hear the mournful lamentations any more.

Translated from Manipuri by Homen Thangjam 

In the Land of the Worshippers

by Laishram Ratan Singh

Prays to God
Every community
Worships God
Every family
Chants His name
Every person.
Chanting God’s name
Worshipping God
Praying to God
Ceases to lower
Prices of the goods
Continues to increase

Number of the thieves.
Screams to one other
“I’m not responsible”
Heaps blame over others
“They’re responsible”
Pot-belly officials
Seven-abs liberators
Who can’t walk

But use wheels to roll over
The half-dead people.
Gods took to wings
One monsoon night deserting
The believers- cum-worshippers
Not to the hills, surely not
But far away
To the land of the Atheists
One told me before
His flight “At least they’re true
They don’t acknowledge my existence.”

(Translated from Manipuri by Homen Thangjam)

Half Human*

by Laishram  Ratan

No horns on the head
No furs on the body
No tooth to bite
No claws to cut
Nonetheless
They’re the ones
Who snatched away from the bosom
Child of the innocent mother
Who robbed away
Honour of the pure virgin.
Yes
There’s an animal
Sure, it has a name
The name is half human.

(* Translated from Manipuri by Homen Thangjam, published in Sangai Express, August 30, 2009)