Sunday, September 25, 2011

सन्डे की सुरमई शाम
सर्दी से शरमाई लिपटी
चाय के गरम प्यालों की
चुस्कियों में डूबी
- अच्छी लगती है.



Morning mist has begun
to appear
it comes mysteriously
at dawn,
stretching across the expanse
of my house and
your own
i see light -
its to hope
i cling on,
that first rays
of sun shall silently
break thru'
drive away all shadows
off my morn.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

सन्नाटे ख़ामोश
तन्हाई से तुम्हारा 
पता पूछते हैं
सो हमने हंगामों में
गुज़र बसर करने की
बस ठान ली है!

कब शुरू हुवी
बात कब कहाँ
कैसे किस वजह
ख़तम हो - क्या ठिकाना है,
जो वक़्त
बंद मुठी में
हथेली से फिसलने को
मचल पड़े है
बस उन्ही का लमस
साँसों में समेट
भरपूर जिए जाना है -
क्यूंकि मौत से सही
ज़िन्दगी से नहीं है
मायूस आदमी!


Friday, September 23, 2011

लम्बाई गोलाई
चौड़ाई गहराई उन्चाई
कई आकारों से 
सजी दुनिया इस लिए 
के कई बिंदु मिल
एक से अनेक हो गए.



Though bubble surfaced while gazing out of train window near London Paddington.




Wednesday, September 21, 2011

दिल को लगी है
जो दिल की लगी है-
ये कैसी है
दिल्लगी खुदारा
घायल है
अरमान तो, सीने की
धड़कन को कब चाहिए
था तुम बिन
कोई दूजा  सहारा?

अब जाने दो बीते को
सोने दो चाहत को
जीने को काफी है
लफ़्ज़ों के साग़र से
बीतेगा हर लम्हा
होने दो, होने को
काफी है इन से 
अपना गुज़ारा.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

The tree stood
proud on a high land
waved to wind
that played
with branches
they were laden with fruit -
drawn to the rich brown
feel of bark
to smell its aura
I leant against
for a while
I stopped to rest,
then eyes got hold
of old root
somewhat knuckled,
it was dry and gnarled
it'd surfaced to ground
a wee-bit, wanting
as if to glimpse, view glory
of all that it
endeavoured for
to enduringly labour
feed shoot
it'd chosen to burrow deep
get the best
and let it seep
through so the wood
with pride could
display, its bounty
and lushful green.
- I returned to call my Mom.



Sunday, September 18, 2011

sizing up

sizing up -
it seems
is fashion of our day,
to size up mates
friends, acquaintance
to feel good
one up over
not bother
saying hello
to that 'no one'
or turn
sweet nose up
sniff those
that ask for
craning of poor head
for their pedestal
pristine shiny
appears good
to sucker up -
I prefer
not to keep, pretence
happily
opt for old fashioned!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

childhood love

they'd grown up
together they'd
formed views
and took vows
at times
they fought
then made up
to talk of
every topic
under sun
till life suddenly
parted, each cleaved
grew a separate
way, with new vision
love paid
a bear price
to make strangers
of minds that
once were one.

तन्हाई के साए
बड़े गहरे होते हैं
- गुमा देते हैं खुद में
यूं कि वजुद विलीन हो बैठे
बेपनाह सन्नाटों में
लेकिन कभी कभी
ये अँधेरे ही दिखा देते 
हैं ज़िन्दगी का ऐसा सच 
रौशनी कि दमक भी
जिस का निशां
पा न सकी थी -
मेरा वोह सच तुम  थे
और मेरी तन्हाई मेरा आज
जो प्यारी है इस लिए
कि कम से कम यहाँ मैं
मैं हूँ तो सही!


Friday, September 16, 2011

farmers till
and toil on land
to raise grain
from a weather beaten
ground.

folks, work 
to buy bread
to bake 
of milled wheat
they consume.

the two connect
by a ruthless system
it survives by
gnawing, pinching
farmer of price fair,
and folks are robbed clean
of well-earned penny too
its only the system
it thrives, subsumes
riding high crest of
incessant inflation loom!

Rest in Peace

the driving seat
of man is heart
from his throne he endeavours
to navigate
through a maze
of unending demands
expectations levied
from family
foes and friends alike.

on the wheel for steer
is his will to be
at helm not be steered
he wallows amidst
umpteen shallow desires
to possess one
then turns to other
burning still with fire
for fame he consumes
and devours. 

death then quietly
walks aside, whispers
to restless soul
you've had your while
now rest in peace
for there no winners
but losers here!

kopal

कोपल की झलक
में देर है अभी
पतझड़ ऋतू ने आ घेरा है
थोडा देर ठहर
फिर बीतेगा पहर
बाद साँझ ढले
सवेरा है.


Spare the moon gleam

spare me the moon gleam
its begun to hurt
in dimness of my heart
what i need is
the sun to shine
show clear ways
without a cloud
to give me shade -
i want to walk straight
without a falter
reach halt at 
destined place
then I will hold
and kiss the moonbeam
there'll be time
without haste.
 

Spark

torch needs a spark
to sparkle
to gauge way eye's seek
the milestone
without north star
a traveller's lost
so i need you by side
to kindle.

my heart is filled with love-
it feels You
as the reed
that dry though
gets life from breath
that blows, fills with music
as its notes.

i live in hope
of your resilience
seek in life
Your presence
through words that sing
from soul for you
let your remembrance
be my heaven - 

While sun and moon
shine to celebrate Your glory
Let life be my song for thee.

mahabharat



मित्र,
बिछी तो है आज भी
बिसात महाभारत की-
हमारे युग के रंगमंच पर भी
किरदार नव नवीन कई
झलक दिखलाते पात्र कहीं
कोई युद्धिष्टिर बना परिहास उडवाता
अपने धरमराज कहलाने की
कि माया लिप्सा में लुप्त
अपनी द्रौपदी के मान संहार की
घोर पीड़ा से वियुक्त
विमुख रहे.


हैं यही कहीं
दुर्योधन
नकुल, सहदेव, वीर अर्जुन
बलिहार भीम भी प्रतिम्बिबित नज़र आ जाते
कभी काल के किसी पृष्ठ पट पर -
सभी निभाते जा रहे भूमिका
यूँ जिस तरह
हुवे नियुक्त
अपनी नियति के कर से,
मगर -
मेरी नज़रें नहीं ताड़ पा रही
उस अकेले को जो
सम्पूर्ण महाभारत की रूह है.

परमवीर करमवीर
कर्मयोधा मेरा कर्ण -
इस युध्ह के कोलाहल में
तुम्हारी सचेत आत्मा
मानवीय मूल, वचनबद्धता,
मैत्रिये, मर्यादा के फूल
किस ठौर ढके
कहाँ गुम है?

It was deathly despair
that clouded tick tock
of my clock, when
the day was made
in part studying faces
fourteen of them in all -
I watched guys and girls
their heads carried
several shades of grey
and time wizened faces
were etched with memories
of varied roles they had
in bitter sweet drama of life
each had a separate tale
to tell, each had faced
a very different gale
yet unbeaten
they danced together
swung arm
to gentle rhythm -
as trees beckon
easterly breeze to stay
they too chose to summon
with desire some more
a little more time
for play. 
natural variation determines
in which lap
what share of
bounty or burden shall fall
this is a destined toll
of that no soul
is ever in charge,
but human mind is blessed
in that it minds not -
endeavours still regardless
relentlessly to love and fulfil
their lives' call.

Thoughts that surfaced after reading Oliver Sacks - 'The Man who mistook his wife for a Hat'

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

living

longing dissipates
when I connect
reach out to whose
lives' been touched
by life's magic wand-
from here I see
withstand accept that
while touch of pain
is law universal
love for all invariably
endures, it is
a lasting therapy.


words of rhyme
salve soothe
sometimes heal the hurt
i seek your
company with
a desolate heart
so hold my hand
be my friend
till death do us part.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Petals bloom
just before the fall
in splendour splash out colour
for butterfly to spread wing
in flutter and, for bee
to hum its song -
beautiful moment
is then blown
by winds for time
to gather seeds has come
to sow the earth
with flower's core
that was flung far beyond
so wait a while
let shiver pass
let bygones be bygone -
Hey Spring is near
just round the corner -
sweet blossom shall
soon recover!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Reverie

He said he is happy
'coz many a car
stand by his door
bearing brands to flash
and for sake of norm
his life is shared
with ones who love
as he earns for all
to give gold to all.

It was here
that the penny dropped.

Sure he isn't poor
for any want or warmth
it matters in least
his time on land
wasn't spent
walking hand in hand
with me
what went amiss
if no hues of sunrise saw
nor could linger rays
of setting sun
to witness see me kneel
beside knee
or rest the head
on lover's arm,
what cost
indeed in big scheme
of things
that togetherness was
so worthlessly lost?

Hearken O' heart
the call for prayer
for clear dawn has just begun
to reveal a truth
that lurked in shadow -
at long last a reverie
comes to end.

dil ki syahi


तो तुमने फिर से लिखना शुरू कर दिया
क्या कुछ और स्याही बची है अब भी
दिल की खाली दरारों के बीच
जिसे सोख
कर अब भी
मन में जीने का हौंसला बाकी हैं?

हाँ कहा मन ने
एक बार फिर अन्तराल में
कविता जाग उठी जो दीप बनी
करती रहती झिलमिल -
दिल की गलियां हैं रोशन
तो इसी प्रकाश से 
वरना इन् हथेंलियों ने 
केवल अंधकार बिटोरा है.
ten years 
you happily say
you are prepared to wait
to hear again
from one you claim
you loved, you love
and will always do so
I say
with conviction this time
no you don't -
yes you love to hurt
and humiliate
for the sake of feeling good
then say to placate
I love you -
you cheat the self!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

my sky's overcast
air still, losses are high
gains nil -
I ache in my heart
the pains kill
still i tread
seeking against
odds and will
i ask
to be returned
to Your
everlasting favour
of faith.



Friday, September 09, 2011

journey home

a world that started
and stopped with you
although you were
just apparition
that deserted, left
at glimpse of glitter
to find rays of gold
where lay shimmer
of your horizon -
i stumbled, i fell
withdrew my hand
that none were there
to reach or hold
I looked beyond
and saw Him beckon
to candle of His hope
I've groped my way
to reach my goal -
His shelter
is now my haven.

Busy Bee

busy bee buzzes
draws nectar of life
off bloomin' flowe
r!

Wednesday, September 07, 2011

I knew

I knew
you knew
I'd called
across silence of night
divide of ocean
when rose rampant emotion
i reached out
to salve
kept my heart on mute
to be heard by heart
in you
I knew
you knew
I'd called.

words

words,
i know none
with touch
as gentle, healing as thine -
all hurt
my ache
vaccuum resolve
when i dissolve
diffuse distress
i dip and drown
in a potion
of wordy wine.

Sunday, September 04, 2011

Life showcased

Life showcased

on display

nah no frowns

no ohs or ahs allowed

there's no space

to groan,

for all is jovial

with shallow mirth

lively illusion surround

the virtual;

OMG Facebook's holding

realities to ground

LOL :)

Saturday, September 03, 2011

darya aur samundar

एक दरिया
एक समुन्दर -
दोनों पानी का अठखेल,
मिठास लिए
अपने आँचल में
दरिया बढे
सागर की ओर
उस के प्रेम से अपरिचित सागर
ऊँचाइयों का गुमान लिए
अपनी खारी लहरों संग
बस धरती तट छु ही
टूट बिखरता है.