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!

Being Human

Human being
was born -
to rise as fair from folly,
but with lifetime lost
in zest
to be this and be that
to keep in balance

the worldly act

to be seen more important

than the rest

especially more than one

who's somewhat less,

I say -

where's a chance

ever for us

to try to just

being Human.

The inevitable

Hey I see

a ripple in the six pack

with red rucksack poised on back,

an impatient move of shoulder tells -

he is ready

to go out, Honey!

Will he falter

on the way

or walk ahead

with challenge in steps

will he tread with head held

tall and high

'coz tempest

of prenatal blood

churned him so -

it ignited fires

in his belly?

Or, will heart

be overruled

overcome by sane superior mind

as a quirk

of Mendelian rule

mark your claim

to make calm cautious stance

his easy, restful stead

'coz he chose

to live life like you

with acceptance

that wants cause no stir

not blow a whistle

on foul play

umpteen hidden in

our social mores.

Oh how

impatiently do I watch

to see where in him

is you or me:

in that arch of bushy brow

that seem mine

the flare of nose

yes, its yours;

but what about his sight?

In what direction shall it take

to which school

will the will belong

which path will be trod

when we're steered on along

with, wherever

that vision beckons

merger of our genome(s),

there in time we'll travel with him

together - you and me,

as nature's alchemy

when it rewrote us

we were destined

to be he.

Look he's ready-

the cocktail of our lives

is to be served, and

savoured by his world,

dahling its time to let go

to bid farewell

say adieu

as spring is henceforth bygone

all we can do is behold

hold on to other's hand

for our bid

has already been done -

...............................................................

Love,

blink no longer at horizon

by Jove,

he is gone.

With fruits

near harvested,

summer's eve gets only shorter,

autumn's chill is set on the on

and winter, it soon shall creep

upon, so turn

give life a bear hug, then

before we hear or say

mate good bye

please, look back not

look on no further

here for you

I do still wait

in good faith I remain

to keep

your heart 'n' hearth

in warmth.

Manthan

agar jeevan hai

Kshirsagar jis ki

machalti, jhinjhhorti

lahron se takra kar

hi paana hai

muthi bhar sarvratan-

to mujhe duba do

har pal nishthurta se

kar lo mere pran haran

par de dena

sab kuch hi le kar

bas woh ek anmol ratan

bhar dena meri jholi

mein seep liye

sacche preet ki

satvik aanch,

jis mein jeevan dan

deta divya deep

ka prakash saja ho!

Paarkhi Prabhu

Tum to paarkhi

ho na niyaton ke

to mila kyon nahi

mera man aangan

tumhe

apna ghar basane ko?

fursat ho to jhanko

is man mein

jahan har kone ko

kiya swarn khara tha

bas tum se hi

gaanth lagane ko.

phir diya kyon nahin-

kehlate jo Daata,

kisi gaam

mujhe sukoon

chalti hoon dagmag

kadmon se jab

is karmbhumi pe

jis pe tum ne

mera naam likha?

suno main ne

Rabb maana hai

tum ko, Parmaatma

naam se hi jana hai

to ab duja nyaay

upaay nahi -

ke kadam tika do

haath pakad lo

ukhdi meri saans sambhalo

durgam ye agnipath hai

ab wo waqt aa gaya

Vidhata

mere bhi to

Prabhu bano na.

Ties of blood

they say

ties of blood

remain unsevered bonds

over time

through highs and lows

in hours of need

when traversing up and down

its kind voice of kith and kin

that sustains

with unfailing respite

affirming again

and again

that alone we're not

meant to endure

in hardest of times

our relatives are there

to cheer

as blood is thicker

than water.

this for me

is a myth -

well proven in time and again

for my brood endured

gave precious company

only when times were hearty, of plenty

yet when i yearned

for a healing touch

or turned to them

for a listening ear,

in desperation

I found -

in times of distress

my kindred

were too busy

to care.

We'd shared

a root, bore names of same

one family tree,

but with the misfortune's strike

it was blood

that swiftly dried

the element of water

it flowed so freely

to cleanse to cure

it gushed as spring

from source untagged

chanced upon by heart

steadfastly

they stood near

enough to reach

to lean upon

unquestioning shoulders;

so affectionately

these nameless bonds

extended with ease

enabled to live

survive beyond the mundane

in human existence -

their Holy hand

had wiped off gently

all tarnish and tear.

-

Thank God

that water is thinner

than blood.

In life

In life

we ride high tide

and sometimes low

when on crest

its easy to be spotted

to be followed

by those who

clambour close to play

up to the challenge

of the survival game;

its at bottom of troughs

though that we find

only self

to hug close, hold tight

to stay barely afloat

and if at such times

blessed are we with a few

precious chums

that choose

to swim alongside

to hum

tunes of patience,

courage and cheer

to tug us along

with lifeline spelt hope

pulling to the shores

with selfless care,

they are the ones

that deserve

to be cherished

close to our heart.

mama ka nidhan

Badi hi sookhi

rookhi padi thi khaak

tumhari qabr pe

pardes ki mitti

jhulsaati dhoop mein

dekha so mama

aansuon ka chidkao

aaj main kiye

aayi hoon

kuch nami mein

jo kami pade to

khwabon mein aa

batla jana-

main phir aaoongi

rone ko.

Parvaaz

Hawaiee jahaz jab

ruka khada tha

khila mein -

zamin ambar ke darmiyan

utarne ke intezaar mein

tha thama, ke lambe safar ki

thakaan thi.

Dekha main ne tab

bhoori dharti aatoorta se

moonh uthaye

tak rahi thi ek tak

kshithij mein pat gagan ka

neela, ujjwal, pradeept aasman

us se aalingan badh

hone ki manokamna

bas anayas mere man ki

mook pukar bani

to us damm palat

prithvi ye boli:

haad maans aur hawa

par nirbhar Paarth Putra

hey Maanas

teri parvaaz abhi baaqui hai.