Flowing through the atmosphere
the breaths that my ancestors have taken
are perhaps drifting somewhere
though the interstices of this flower
Expanding through the sky
the breaths that I’ve taken
are perhaps mingling somewhere
in your blood cells
Embracing the atmosphere
the breaths that my progeny have taken
are perhaps suspended somewhere
in your life cells
Nevertheless
if you find all I touch impure
that’s alright! I, Untouchable, am just fine, Sir
Very well! You needn’t breathe the same air I breathe
You needn’t cover yourself with the same sky I’m covered by
My tears of blood are mixed in
and my identity as a human has been wiped on
all the colours of your multi-hued palace
and in each of your rainbow’s dreams
Nevertheless
if you find all I touch impure
if the lamp of humanity doesn’t light up
I won’t take the path through your courtyard
I won’t touch the soil of your boundary wall
I won’t drink the water from your spring
I won’t live by the faith of your god
That’s alright! I, Untouchable, am just fine, Sir
Very well! You needn’t see the divine in the statues I’ve carved
You needn’t step on the earth that is soaked with my sweat
From the 8th Volume of La.Lit: Translations from the Margins.
Translated by Manjushree Thapa, original published in Sukrabar Saptahik