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'

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.

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!

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!

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.

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' flower!

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.

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 :)

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.

Sach

सच
तो बहुत हैं -
कुछ खोटे, कुछ खरे
कुछ दिल दुखते
कुछ दे देते सुकुन
पर हर सच से
परे ऊपर
है परमात्मा
यह सच कि तुम हो
यहीं बसे
हर दिल कि गलीयों
में दौड़ रहा है
वोह वजुद जो
अकेला है.

Shop Window

shop window displays

many faces

in variety of colours

and lines

to tow the heart

of onlookers

and deep in cell

and soul

is buried deep

the one who knows

true worth

of goods to be sold:

I am the keeper

of my shop.

eyes grazed

expanse of o'ergrown green

showing a splatter

of weak yellowy flowers

when I spotted

the bee;

from one to another

it flitted in vain

searching for nectar

that wasn't

on offer here:

its time to weed

I thought.