Momila's is one of the fresh young voices of the period following the reinstatement of democracy. Her poems are at the same time deeply interior and outspoken, expressing her political concerns through private, individuated expressions. The first poem below is one of the most succinct poems to be found on the social and psychological boundaries that girls are limited by.

PERHAPS!

Perhaps!

The young girl draws a border
by the pond beside the house
This is my home, Father!

The young girl draws a border
in the translated distance of passion
These are my tears, Father!

The young girl draws a border
in the rolling fog and the ocean wave
This is my joy, Father!

The young girl draws a border
in the transformed gales of conflict
This is my life, Father!

The young girl draws a border
in offerings of pity and in dream nymphs
This is my ineffectualness, Father!

The second poem, below, was written at the death of the climber Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, the first woman to climb Sagarmatha, who died on her descent.

AT THE LOSS OF A RHODODENDRON
(To Pasang Lhamu Sherpa)

At the loss of a rhododendron I thought of-
an evening of cherry blossoms in flower
a night of the redolent parijat flower
the pain of purple jacarandas on the street
the cry of the sarangi in the mute flowering hills
the blue earth from each angle of space.

I thought of you when your waking days
as beautiful as dreams turned to snow and fire
when your dream as difficult as the waking state
became victory-separation and touched the heart
I thought of the rhododendron blooming
at the blue borders of the flag's moon and sun
Even as a fool I found the soft touch of the fogs grand
I remembered the tears dropping
at the sorrowful tune of the snow and wind
at the loss of a rhododendron.

In the Himalayan canvas of the country
you are a beautiful collage
A blue mountain waterfall in the settlements of grief
And.so
Excellent poems are breaking out of eyes
Beautiful tunes are playing in the songs
In your name
I sat down to write an excellent poem
I tried to compose a beautiful song
but no poem could excel over you
no song could be more beautiful than you

At the loss of a rhododendron.

Momila's voice is clear, clean and sophisticated, and she deserves more attention than she has perhaps received.