The Eight-eyed Lord of Kathmandu

By Abhay K.

In these rapturous poems, Abhay K. catches the allure and mystique of Kathmandu, its maze of medieval streets, thronged bazaars, twilit courtyards, the aromas of its ancient alleyways, the drift of incense from its crumbling temples, and the raucous chant of its life. He is the all-seeing eye, the seer who brings to light a city and its people with a rare immediacy of speech and a boundless imaginative empathy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Release date: Jan 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9789388134583

Abhay K.

Abhay K. (b.1980) is the author of a memoir and nine poetry collections including The Magic of Madagascar, The Alphabets of Latin America, The Eight-eyed Lord of Kathmandu and The Seduction of Delhi. He is the editor of CAPITALS, New Brazilian Poems, Great Indian Poems and The Bloomsbury Book of Great Indian Love Poems. His poems have been published in over 100 literary journals across the world including Poetry Salzburg Review. He received the SAARC Literary Award in 2013 and was invited to record his poems at the Library of Congress in Washington DC in 2018. His poem-song 'Earth Anthem' has been translated into over 120 global languages and is performed across the globe. www.abhayk.com

Book preview

THE

EIGHT-EYED

LORD

of

KATHMANDU

‘The geographies, both material and spiritual, of Nepal, the pinnacle of our world, have never been more lovingly rendered than in this, Abhay K.’s splendid poetic sequence of praise, dazzlement, and wonder for a realm in which he sojourned as both a pilgrim and a friend.’

—Vijay Seshadri Winner, Pulitzer Prize for Poetry

‘Abhay K. has a special gift. His poetic mission, rare today, is simply to praise. This poetic duty, described by Rilke as Ein zum Rühmen Bestellter, makes him, the one whose task it is to praise. To praise the earth, the fruits of the earth, the myriad manifestations of culture and history and geography, such praise requires faith, insight and compassion. Abhay K. has these qualities in abundance. His poems shimmer with a deep human appreciation of the gift of life and its fragile tapestry. I see them as Vedic hymns of praise in contemporary dress.’

—Gabriel Rosenstock, Irish Poet

‘In these rapturous poems, Abhay K. catches the allure and mystique of Kathmandu; its maze of medieval streets, its thronged bazaars, its twilit courtyards. In these captivating poems, I taste the aromas of its ancient alleyways and the drift of incense from its crumbling temples. I hear in them the raucous chant of its life. Abhay K. is the all seeing eye, the seer who brings to light a city and its people with a rare immediacy of speech and