time, my friend

your face, I've found

more fickle

than sea-sand

that holds close

imprints of steps

that tread across

for a while at least

till a new tide

washes ashore.

dare to walk

its only

when steps trod

that walks get etched,

carved across

in wilderness

of woods.

its alright

its alright
to flutter
like butterfly
to attempt

to fly

yet reach not

the sky

one wants

to see.

its alright

its alright
to flutter
like butterfly
to attempt

to fly

yet reach not

the sky

one wants

to see.

What point is there
to mourn  
love's labour lost 
or grieve in vain 
for eighteen in all 
change of season
gone, lost in quest 
of honest half
who lives to lead
path of love 
selfless virtue!

If 'viddhi' is applied not

in due time

'vyadhi' is

one inevitable fate.

Reflective thought on Baba Ramdev's talk on Yog.

Nature's law

Apple falls

when ripe

to ground that nurtured

it sweet -

so do I

when life's mass

is hard to hold

or bear for more

I gravitate

in humility

to Yea.

shackles of civic life

I am tired

pretty much so

of changing careers, diapers

packers and movers

flitting across

from office to home

I flutter

thru commutes and jams

I flicker

from smile to woes

memories sweet n bitter

then suffer whims and viles

to survive

expectations of life

I suffer

I struggle with folders and files -

Hell I'm tired

of Me and Mys.

Wrinkles

Fine lines

have formed

to etch crevices across

face of time

that savours memories

sweet and savoury

of lifetime

that was lived

stamped as mine!

Old Jotting on 21.3.91

Kayi chehre hain

maanvi jo jungle

mein jeete

zaroor zinda kehlaate

armaanon mein dhale

saje sanwre magar

ret se bhurbhure

ghar basate pyar se khokhle

niradhaar jo tike hain

aisi zameen par

jahan aksar -

waqt ke

bhayanak tufaan uthte hain.

Self aware

Clay in me

draws forth self

for fleshly desires

I lust, seek more

than need be.

Spirit from You

lightens the load

buoyant it rises

in me -

from depths and dark

I alight to see

in comprehension

wings spread,

to take of in flight

solely and only

to Thee.

Uni of Life

Got entry
some decades ago
in top of the league

yet unlisted Uni -
to be taught to see
listen not hear
use words as gear
to drive with ease

when going was sleek

or when bumpy

became the ride -

then most importantly

it urged me on
to let a feeling heart be

my unfailing guide.

While seated in foyer of Paddington station, waiting for Samar to accompany to his open uni day

Hajj

Moving around

merged within a sea

of humanity

I strove earnestly

with many a seeking

wanting souls, demanding-

a greater share

of wholesome Divinity.

I ache too

to dissolve - submit

my cells, in their

bare molecular form

to be part, adorn

mosaic that purposeful nature forms -

my tangible self

does yearn its place

in vastness thats Yours.

Lips converse each day

with Thee, and

many a prayers whisper'd

some said aloud

others beseech in murmurs

I listen with silent lips -

in awe

as arid flesh does struggle

to articulate only utterance

of my soul.

Hear me Lord here,

where You've

called for me

listen to me above thunderous rolls

frightening rise and fall of sea

within its waves

is a tiny form

the particle that carries

name of me

has presented to Yea

with its discrete call

and a plea.

Rabb,

I've said it before

I say again with glee-

here I am

ready to heed

be available

to soak and drench

in sweat and rain

I'll happily toil

in submission, I've turned

to thee - so reject me not

as its your turn now

to accept Me.

Lost Soul

I wanna know

who I am

where I belong.

Starting from East

from a land

of diversity,

where black and brown

held cheerful stance

to dance gleefully

in paucity;

in prime

I walked

thru' sun and sand

across span of seven seas

to western land

where I merged

with ease

to abide

amidst human hues

of white, yellow

dark, stark and sallow

but I had

lost me.

In seeking answer

to know myself

will it be then

of any help

to start to question

probe some further -

What is the colour

of a human soul?

Happiness

I was happy

when you tiptoed

ever so silently behind

to hold hands

and walk beside

oblivious to the storm

raging within

you dissloved

to blend with me

as one.

Happiness,

I know you now -

where art thou?

Paathshala

कितना तोड़ती मरोड़ती है
झकझोरती खाखोरती है
फैलती फिर सिकोड़ती
भी है
ये जीवन की पाठशाला
केवल इतना बतलाने को
की जीवनधार में
प्रवाहित हैं कई, पर मानस
बस अकेला है.

Life lawn

Across the wide expanse
of sprawling lawn lies-
a lifetime of memories
some tender, too sweet
others best weeded out
I think as fingers extend-
knackered and knarled
to gently separate
the lush and green
from yellowed, faded lot
endurance hurts
at pricks of thorn
telling me to dare not
withdraw, for bitter
or sweet, desirable tho' not
they present to me
seeds from yesterday -
sown and surviving
cast my way
by winds of time
stand as stubborn
reeds on very own
ground that spans
my today.




- Sabina Fatima Hussain

Sharebroker called

Sharebroker called:

Ma'am,

there's been a slump

market is bust

with share prices record low

the opportunity's best

to sow

for future, its good time

to invest.

I said:

yeah you're right

I've heard on the news

recession's rife

and businesses on close

in millions are numbers

with no wages to keep

families 've broken

lives been lost;

gover'ments announced

public coffers are dry

banks've been funded

for executives to thrive

with workers at strike

home 'n' hearth

at threat-

the present sounds dire,

thanks for the tip;

as stakes seem high

it must be opportune

to risk good fortune

act before delay

hampers any chance

of projected growth

go ahead, do secure

abide by the no'm

can you please buy

for me

the best shares

in contentment.com

Zebra Crossing

Four decades

It takes -

more or less

to see across and through

understand the hue

of stripes

in black and white

laid on way

that is meant

to be crossed

to be on other side,

to accept it all

then walk in control

unperturbed

putting on hold

waiting traffic rush

as its time here

to let fears go

be safely on move

for at middle age

is reached-

the zebra crossing

of life.

Networked

I was a small-town girl
so grew up
chatting, talking, laughing
living life with a swirl.

I am now
a grown up part
of a complex globe:
with changed dynamics
in order to survive
it is inevitable to try
struggle to belong
instead of self
to a plexus of people
that take pride
more than themselves
in those that they know
by positions they hold;
so energies are spent
to painstakingly plan
where to be and when
how to sell
self credentials of worth
look happy, wear smile
feign cheer to befriend -
never the person
but their post is beheld.

I too do
still chat, interact
communicate, connect
and talk with a screen
when reading and listening
in between the said line,
I however remain
consciously on guard
to save from hurt
li'l girl that hides
behind expertly worn
veneer of a pro'
as regretfully with past
ways of the carefree
are gone-
it seems indeed

into a jangle of nerves
I am truly networked!