Yeh Waqt Bhi Guzar Jaega

Yeh waqt bhi guzar jaega
Mausam bhi badal jaega
Socha tha kabhi aisa bhi
Sochte hain abhi aise hi
Rang roop nikhar jaega
Boodobaash mehek jaegi
Maana tha kabhi aisa bhi
Maana hai abhi aise hi
Sakoone dil, asoodgi'e jan
Karm'o ilfaat, chaen, aaraam
Yeh raah dekh legi
Aata hai khayal kabhi yeh bhi

You Want A Book?

You want a book?
You want a book on Psychology
One on Theology, Philosophy
Literature, Archaeology perhaps?

A discourse on the mind
Human spirit, faith, creativity
Existentialism, History
Quite a rainbow in kind

See that man, see that pain?
The demons he keeps at bay
Hounded by misgivings
The terrors he flays

And that woman who waits
Like patience through seasons
Endless, monotonous tempers
With courage straight-spined

The child whose questions make you afraid
With an openness that fells you apart
Along with your identity, reason, intellect
The letters after your name

Look around you, look at them, take your pick
Spoilt for choice, the sea around you
Inhale the smell, feel the paper
Your well-bound, complete works of life

All In One Day

Many moments, many shades, many moods
A serene, light-hearted, calm-radiating sunrise
An instant dip and then, the dark descending cloud
And despair; hard, wet, frozen

Hope kindling like the bright midday sun
Suddenly effusive, suddenly effervescent
Hope dashing low like thunder gust
Suddenly drenched, sodden, deluged

Reproofs raining while day goes to dusk
Defiance glowing in golden streaks
And disconsolation knitting the heart
As darkness descends low

The night now beckons, soft like hope.
Looking for my pillow, my malleable port
The comfort of the intimate dip in my bed
My solacium payment, my consolation prize

Woh jo.....

Woh jo sunn lete hain aahat meri
Dabbe paaon aati dhadhkan bhi
Woh jo choo lete hain soch meri
Lipti khwahish, simti nigah meri

Nahi bandish, tera khayal jo ho
Nahi intiha, tera saath jo ho
Na kinara koi, na hadd na simat
Na anjaam, ikhtitaam, teri baat jo ho

Jo roz guzarta hai

Puraane darwaaze ka kiwaad
Adh khula dekh kar aik jhonka
Kuch dhool udda gaya
Unn aankhon mein
Jo aagey hi khusk hochuki hain
Aur khuli khirki ke jharoke se lipti hawa
Pehle se bikhri zulfon ko
Kuch aur uljha gayee
Khaali aankhein, bikhre gaisoo
Khushk hont, saakit nigah
Aur intizaar jo roz guzarta hai
Puraane darwaaze ke udd khule kiwaadon se
Aur intizaar jo roz milta hai
Khuli khirki ke toote jharokon se

My barefoot need

My barefoot need
And my coated want
Intermingle
Play hide and seek
While my hooded eyes
And my naked smile
Communicate in Morse code

(Mar 2011)

Collateral damage

Little boy, fat man dropped, mushroom clouds
A war won, cities of death, collateral damage
Successful deals, firm handshakes, Swiss bank accounts
Oil boom, ozone depletion, collateral damage
Big smiles, flashing cameras, bombastic speeches
Divided borders, families lost, collateral damage
Chinese whispers, sectarian clashes, blood overflow
Political clout, broken society, collateral damage
Karo kari, honour killing, Haq bakhshish
Love less, child less, collateral damage
Stove burst, acid attack, Vani
Male pride, female humility, collateral damage
Sweet words, honeyed eyes, defection
Deception, destroyed faith, collateral damage
Words of love, promises, affirmation
Lost honour, broken heart, collateral damage

(Feb 2011)