Soft Storm By Abhi Subedi

 

Soft Storm

By Abhi Subedi

About the Poet: Abhi Subedi

Abhi Subedi is a renowned Nepali poet, playwright, and academic, born in 1945. He is one of the most influential figures in contemporary Nepali literature. Subedi's works often reflect his deep engagement with the socio-political landscape of Nepal and the broader human experience. His writing explores themes of justice, history, culture, and the complexities of modern life, blending personal introspection with sharp social commentary. As a professor and critic, he has also contributed to the academic understanding of Nepali literature. His poetry is known for its lyrical beauty, vivid imagery, and philosophical depth, with a focus on the human condition and societal transformation.

About the Poem: "Soft Storm"

Soft Storm is one of Abhi Subedi’s most profound works, capturing the delicate yet powerful emotional transformation of the speaker in response to societal and personal turmoil. The poem conveys the speaker's journey of becoming "soft" in a world filled with chaos, violence, and historical wounds. This "softness" is not a sign of weakness but an emotional response to witnessing suffering and injustice, as the poet reflects on the fragility of life and the enduring scars of history. Throughout the poem, the imagery of storms, moonlit nights, homeless children, and violence is intertwined with more serene images, such as crocuses growing over stones, illustrating the contrast between beauty and despair. The poem captures the speaker’s internal emotional landscape while also addressing broader social and political issues, ultimately presenting a vision of resilience and introspection amid an often cruel and indifferent world.

Tone
The tone of Soft Storm is introspective, reflective, and deeply emotional. The speaker's voice shifts between a quiet sensitivity and a subtle yet persistent storm of inner turmoil. There is an air of sorrow and empathy for the suffering witnessed, alongside a sense of powerlessness in the face of historical and societal injustices. The tone also carries a sense of resilience, with the speaker's "soft storm" symbolizing a kind of quiet resistance and a yearning for transformation. At times, the tone is melancholic and wistful, especially as the poet reflects on the fragility of life, memory, and the passage of time.

Setting

The setting of Soft Storm by Abhi Subedi is both personal and expansive, moving between intimate, reflective spaces and broader societal landscapes. On a personal level, the setting is the speaker’s internal world, marked by emotional turmoil, introspection, and sensitivity. The speaker reflects on personal experiences, using nature and symbolic images to convey their emotional journey. For example, the soft storm symbolizes an inner emotional upheaval, and the speaker describes scenes like moonlit nights and rain tears, suggesting a reflective, almost dreamlike state.

Externally, the setting shifts to more concrete locations, particularly urban and social spaces that are marked by suffering and decay. References to Thamel, a busy area in Kathmandu, and Kesharmahal, a place where homeless children cry in hunger, ground the poem in the physical realities of Nepal's urban landscape. The narrow lanes and the uneasy lake further evoke a sense of discomfort and unease within the city, where the personal and collective histories of pain and neglect intersect. The silent stones and dilapidations of gods' abodes allude to the historical ruins and remnants of a troubled past, blending the physical setting with broader themes of societal decay and forgotten suffering. Ultimately, the setting in Soft Storm acts as a powerful backdrop for the poet's exploration of human experience, where personal emotions are shaped by the larger socio-political and historical context

Themes

1.      Transformation and Softness: The central theme of the poem is the speaker’s transformation into softness, a metaphor for emotional vulnerability, sensitivity, and awareness. The soft storm represents an emotional upheaval that is gentle but persistent, reflecting the poet’s response to the world’s suffering.

2.      Historical and Societal Suffering: The poem grapples with the scars of history—personal and collective. References to homeless children, violence, and the dilapidations of gods' abodes point to the trauma of historical conflicts, social inequalities, and forgotten pain.

3.      Beauty Amidst Chaos: Through imagery like crocuses growing over stones and the moon humming melodies, the poem suggests that beauty and resilience can emerge from hardship and suffering. This theme highlights the possibility of hope and renewal despite the surrounding turmoil.

4.      Memory and Silence: The poem reflects on the way history is remembered and forgotten, symbolized by silent stones, blood-stained shirts, and silent dilapidations. It critiques how suffering and memory are often overlooked or buried, urging a deeper engagement with the past.

5.      Empathy and Resistance: Ultimately, the poem reflects the power of empathy—the soft storm becomes a form of quiet resistance, an emotional response that refuses to remain passive in the face of injustice. It suggests that softness can be a powerful force, even amidst turbulent times.

 

Summary

Soft Storm by Abhi Subedi is a deeply reflective poem in which the speaker explores the emotional and philosophical transformation they undergo in response to the violence, suffering, and historical trauma around them. The poem begins with the speaker's shift into emotional softness, a metaphor for vulnerability and heightened sensitivity to the world. The speaker reflects on how this softness emerges after encountering the tumult of society and the personal pain of witnessing suffering, such as homeless children in Kathmandu. The imagery of crocuses growing over stones and the moon skidding down the walls further emphasizes the delicate yet powerful impact of this transformation, where beauty and sensitivity emerge from hardship and turmoil.

As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the persistent presence of violence and injustice in the world, both personal and collective. They witness acts of cruelty, such as a man beaten mercilessly in front of his family, and the haunting image of a blood-stained shirt, symbolic of violence and suffering that continue to echo through history. The poet expresses their emotional response to these injustices, acknowledging the presence of historical wounds that remain unresolved, like the dilapidations of gods’ abodes where sacred dances and songs have been buried. The speaker’s transformation into a soft storm represents their deep empathy and grief, as they internalize the pain of the world around them, recognizing the lasting effects of societal neglect and political turmoil.

In the final verses, the speaker imagines their soft storm as a force that interacts with the world, affecting both their own emotional state and the broader societal landscape. They express a desire to melt like a rainbow, to find peace amidst the chaos and uncertainty of life. Through this soft storm, the speaker’s emotional turmoil dances in ripples across an uneasy lake, symbolizing their ongoing struggle to find meaning and peace in a world marked by pain and injustice. Ultimately, Soft Storm is a meditation on how personal emotions are shaped by the larger socio-political context, and how softness, though seemingly gentle, can be a powerful and transformative response to a world filled with suffering.

 

I became soft

I became soft

after I heard the tumult and

crashed on the eerie stillness;

I inherited the soft

when the sky grew like crocuses

over stones and

became five inches taller

that very night

when moon skidded down

your walls

The speaker describes a transformation into softness, triggered by a contrast between chaos (tumult) and eerie stillness. This softness is inherited from nature, as the sky, likened to crocuses, grows over stones—symbolizing resilience and beauty emerging from harshness. The imagery of the sky growing "five inches taller" suggests an almost surreal shift, a moment of quiet yet profound change. The moon, skidding down walls, adds a dreamlike quality, implying the passage of time, reflection, or a silent witnessing of events. This stanza sets the tone for the poem’s exploration of sensitivity, history, and emotional depth.

speaking in the language

of posters and politics

rituals and reasons.

I became soft

as the softness rose like a gale

tearing my roofs

 that very night

when the moon sang of

lampposts and gutters

 in this seamless city.

The poet personifies the moon as a storyteller, speaking in the language of posters and politics, rituals and reasons, suggesting the pervasive presence of societal structures, ideologies, and traditions. This "softness" is not passive but rises like a powerful force—a gale tearing roofs—symbolizing an emotional upheaval or awakening. The imagery of lampposts and gutters evokes a stark contrast between light and shadow, progress and decay, wealth and poverty, all existing within the seamless city, where such contradictions are interwoven. The stanza highlights the poet’s deep sensitivity to the complexities of urban life, history, and socio-political realities.

I became soft

when homeless children in Thamel

cried with hunger under the bat-bearing

trees of Kesharmahal;

I became soft

when I returned

from the melee

where ceremony

dances with mad steps

on the unwedded gardens of history

growing around protruded rocks.

The poet’s softness is deeply tied to empathy and witnessing suffering. Seeing homeless children in Thamel crying in hunger under the bat-bearing trees of Kesharmahal evokes a stark image of neglect and hardship in a place rich with history. The contrast between the grandeur of Kesharmahal and the children's suffering underscores societal disparity. The poet further reflects on returning from a melee, where ceremonies—perhaps political or cultural spectacles—unfold with chaotic energy, dancing with mad steps over the unwedded gardens of history. This phrase suggests a history that remains unresolved, untethered, and shaped by forces indifferent to the struggles of the marginalized, reinforcing the poet’s emotional and moral awakening.

I became soft

when I alone turned to you

leaving deep dents of words

on these white sheets;

I became soft storm

when I saw a forlorn child

carrying transistor radio around his neck

run around wailing

to find his mother

in the corridors of violent history.

The poet’s transformation into softness is deeply personal and tied to the act of writing, as seen in leaving deep dents of words on these white sheets. This suggests that his emotions and reflections are imprinted onto paper, making poetry an outlet for his response to suffering. The imagery of a forlorn child with a transistor radio around his neck, desperately searching for his mother, symbolizes the innocent victims of history’s violence. The corridors of violent history represent past and present conflicts that separate families and cause immense grief. This moment of witnessing pain turns the poet’s softness into a soft storm—a quiet but powerful force of resistance and remembrance.

I became a soft storm

when I saw

a man beaten mercilessly

for no reason

 before his family

 by nobody for no reason

in no sensible times.

The poet’s transformation into a soft storm is triggered by witnessing senseless violence. The repetition of no reason and nobody emphasizes the absurdity and injustice of the act, highlighting a world where brutality occurs without logic or accountability. The victim is beaten mercilessly before his family, intensifying the cruelty and emotional impact, as suffering is not only physical but also deeply psychological for those who witness it. The phrase in no sensible times suggests a breakdown of reason and morality, portraying a society where violence has become disturbingly normalized. This moment fuels the poet’s storm—a quiet but powerful force of grief, outrage, and resistance.

I became soft

when I saw

a blood-stained shirt

speaking in the earth’s ears

with bruised human lips

in the far corner

under the moon

of history and dreams

 playing hide and seek

in open museums

of human times.

The poet’s softness is awakened by a haunting image—a blood-stained shirt that seems to whisper into the earth’s ears with bruised human lips, symbolizing the silent yet lingering presence of past violence and suffering. The far corner under the moon suggests a forgotten tragedy, hidden in the shadows of history. By describing history and dreams as playing hide and seek in open museums of human times, the poet critiques how human suffering is often overlooked or reduced to mere artifacts, rather than acknowledged as a living, unresolved reality. This moment reinforces the poet’s deep empathy and the enduring weight of historical wounds.

I became soft

since you gave words

but did not listen to them,

 gave storms

but didn’t wait to see its Leela

 over the silent stone.

The poet’s softness stems from a deep sense of being unheard and unacknowledged. You gave words but did not listen to them suggests a world where voices are allowed to speak but not truly heard or understood. Similarly, gave storms but didn’t wait to see its Leela implies that upheavals—whether emotional, social, or political—are set into motion, yet those responsible do not stay to witness their consequences. Leela (a divine play) hints at a deeper, cosmic unfolding of events, ignored by those who initiate chaos. The silent stone represents history’s passive endurance, witnessing everything but unable to intervene, reinforcing the poet’s quiet yet powerful sorrow.

Crocuses have grown

over the stone–

I saw last moonlit night,

storms have loitered

in the narrow lanes

where I too have walked alone

The image of crocuses growing over the stone evokes the idea of resilience and beauty emerging in the face of hardship or time's passage, symbolizing hope amidst the enduring weight of history. The last moonlit night adds a sense of reflection, as the poet witnesses this delicate transformation under the moon's light. The storms loitering in the narrow lanes represent the lingering impact of turmoil, both personal and societal, while the poet's admission of walking alone suggests a shared experience of isolation and introspection. This line captures a quiet but powerful acknowledgment of enduring struggles, alongside the possibility of growth and renewal.

pensively in rain tears

and little chuckles of sun laughter

 that have risen and melted

like rainbow.

Soft is my storm

that rages and rages

over silent pages,

silent stones, silent forlorn shirts carrying war memories,

silent dilapidations of gods’ abodes

where dances and songs

are buried under helpless divine debris

in human courtyards.

The poet’s soft storm is a metaphor for an emotional and intellectual upheaval that is quietly persistent yet deeply transformative. The imagery of rain tears and sun laughter evokes a blend of sorrow and fleeting joy, suggesting the complex nature of human experience. These emotions rise and melt like a rainbow, emphasizing the transient yet powerful force of feelings. The storm rages over silent pages, stones, and forlorn shirts, indicating that the poet’s grief, anger, and reflection persist through history’s forgotten traces—whether through the written word, physical remnants, or memories of war. The reference to dilapidations of gods' abodes suggests the decay of sacred or revered spaces, where dances and songs—symbols of joy and life—are buried beneath the rubble of human failure and divine abandonment, creating a poignant critique of the passage of time and human neglect.

Soft is what you saw,

I honor your mooneyes

but the mad time spools

winding all that we see and live with,

stone growing in flower

moon humming melodies

history rushing under the lamppost

 and over deforested land, birds singing of bizarre journeys

over the warming earth

rhododendron blooming in winter,

mother earth telling of the tumults

in the songs of the sad birds.

All in unison have created

this soft gale.

The poet reflects on the complexity of existence, where beauty and chaos coexist. The soft storm the speaker experiences is intertwined with the passage of time and the interconnectedness of all things. The phrase stone growing in flower symbolizes the unexpected emergence of beauty from hardship, while moon humming melodies suggests the cyclical and mysterious nature of life. The reference to history rushing under the lamppost and deforested land paints a picture of modernity’s impact on the natural world, with birds singing of bizarre journeys symbolizing the dislocation and struggles of life. The blooming of rhododendron in winter and the songs of sad birds evoke themes of resilience amidst adversity. Ultimately, all these forces—nature, history, and the human condition—converge to create the soft gale, a powerful yet gentle force that embodies the poet’s emotional response to the world.

But in these hard times

I want to melt like a rainbow

my soft storm in your minuscule sky.

My soft storm

dances in ripples

of your uneasy lake.

The poet expresses a desire for transformation and release during challenging times. The wish to melt like a rainbow suggests a longing to dissolve into something beautiful and ephemeral, transcending the harshness of the world. The soft storm represents the poet’s inner turmoil and emotional depth, which contrasts with the minuscule sky, symbolizing limited or constrained circumstances. The uneasy lake reflects the instability or discomfort of the environment, while the soft storm dancing in ripples signifies the subtle yet persistent movement of the poet's emotions, gently affecting the world around them despite the turbulence. It highlights the poet's yearning for a balance between softness and strength in a world filled with uncertainty.