She ought to smell

She ought to smell like angels do
Like a snowflake on a rose
Sun warm sea-spray on bare skin
An earthy fruit-laden vineyard
Sandalwood on fire

She smells like a lost embrace
Crushed moss on a patio stone
Dead flowers, day after the wedding
She smells like broken laughter
And of love never heard of

Attakk gayi hoon

Attakk gayi hoon
Ilfaz aur izhaar ke beech
Phanns gayi hoon
Soch aur bayan ke beech
Ik phaans hai
Ik jaal hai
Girdaab hai
Meray aur sab ke beech

No, I do not miss

No, I do not miss the people gone
I carry on, dont I.
Just the heart has some chambers missing
And the head has gone awol
The trunk lost a few rather very many branches
And a few dents, scratches showed up on the hull
The dazzle that was here, and the song
Gone too as the darkness came and the dull
The wind it wails, as it comes and goes
Thinking it is filling a void
The rain it falls, as it slips and holds
Thinking it can hole in
And I am here holding court
Perfecting the art of living

Faani

Chuhdd muhdd kaghaz ke pannay
Phaink chuki thi mein
Dhajji kapde, dhundli tasveerien
Gharq kar aaee thi mein
Maan liya tha, mein kuch bhi nahi


Mitta par phir na mitta
Suragh apna, apna ehsaas
Shinakth apni, apni zaat
Hoon faani yeh gumaan
Maan aayee thi main

Ab Dard Akela Nahi

Ab dard akela nahi

Tanhai nahi, siyyahi nahi

Aik duniya hai sangg

Aik tamasha hain hum

Ab mehfil hai, rangeeni hai

Ab dard akela nahi

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