ABHI...

Abhi dikha tha saahil

Abhi thaama tha tumhara haath

Abhi mudke dekha tha tumne mujhe

Abhi baadal garje the

Bas abhi

Kisi khayal mein doob gayi main phir

Tumhari kashti nazar ki hadh pe mit rahi hai

Aur mere haathon mein ek safed seep hai

Abhi thamayi thi tumne mujhe

Bas abhi hi to...

PLOP

The mountain peaks are frosted

The lake placid

The ripples lick the skin right below my breasts

I stand in the water with my hair let loose

The wild wind washes its woes wearily

The water top is glass like

The weeds rising till my thighs

A small fish as big as my thumb swims around me

It enters my belly button

Plop

It’s out again

Plop

Around me in a swish

And plop

In it goes again

And plop

As the fish labours on

Quicker and quicker

It feels like something felt before

Or a line that I once read

“maut kehlo jo mohabbat nahin kahne paa'o”

“name it death if you can’t call it love” (Meena Kumari)

kabhi kabhi kisi raat aisa hota hai...

Roz raat hota hai
padosiyon ka murgha rota hai,
chota bhai mera, sabko sulane ke bad hi sota hai,
din ka bulb jalne wala hai
fajir mein ailaan hota hai
aur ek buddha bila-nagha
"ghaflat ki neend mat so, neend se behtar hai namaz, namaz padho..."
chillata hua gasht pe hota hai,

par kabhi kabhi kisi raat aisa hota hai
ke Sahu puri raat kavitayein padhta hai
subha tak phir kuch aisa aalam hota hai
ke jo likha hai, likh rahi hun, likhne wali hun,
sab saala phaad ke phek dun!

KUCH ANDHERE

Humsaayon ki munder pe sawar hain
saaye jo maazi ki dhul se nikal aaye hain.

Na aakhein hain inki aur na kaan naak,
ek mun hai phata hua,
jismein shor karte bhanwar samaye hain.

Har ek ke kaandhe pe chand baitha hai,
jiske daagh inhone noch khaye hain.

Aaj ki raat, kaala aasman rota hai,
siyah ghubaar se chaley kuch taare,
zameen ko chukar adna si chingari ban jaate hain.

Halaq mein ek dusre ke muthhiyan ghusaye hain,
sach bolne waley jaaney kiski zabaan kheech laaye hain.

samundar ke kinare pe logon ka hujoom hai,
badhte badhte apna jism utaar dete hain,
sulagti hui maachis jo paani ko chuley
aisi awaz ke sath bujh rahe hain
kuch andhere jo jalte hue aaye hain.

NeverMind!!!

In my thoughts we have walked a few miles.
On a sunny morning we shared our first cup of tea,
and while you lay sleeping next to me, I kissed your uneven eyes.
In my thoughts we smiled and then we laughed, till tears rolled down our eyes.
In my thoughts I know how the bones in your chest feel
and I know the face you make before you sneeze.
In my thoughts you walk in to the balcony whenever I am standing alone,
and hold me from behind.
In my thoughts we have danced on a starry night,
feet on feet, you carried me around.
In my thoughts I know now the sound of your footsteps
and how your presence feels.
In my thoughts, we are in love...
In reality...
NeverMind!!!

Kabhi Kabhi

kabhi kabhi hi hota hai aisa
aakhon ki udaasi padh leta hai koi

ye uske samajhne ka hunar hai
ya mere chupane ki kami

samajhey jaaney ka bhi ek ehsaas hai
raahat si hai par dar mein lipti hui

kisine jhaank liya akeli si rooh mein meri
tanhayi aur gehri, aur siyah hone lagi...

Kuch Nazmein meri...

Kuch nazmein hain jo nasur ban gayi hain

Yaad ka wo adhera kona jahan se sadne ki boo aati hai

Kuch nazmon mein meri mawaad pad gaya hai

Itni paki hui hain ke khoon bhi sookh chuka hai

Kuch nazmon ne meri khudkhushi karli hai

Be maiyene hojana har kisi ke bas ki nahin

Kuch nazmein meri, safon ke beech dabi hain

sookh chuki hain, bhoole hue sookhe phoolon ki tarah

Reads like country.

Writing in the nude

Rubbing my eyes

Chewing my lips

Swinging my hair

My head like a pendulum

You ought to write in the nude

Take off that dress

You bought it cheap

Let the waves take your shoes

And pray! What does a wrist watch do?

You will sit in the stadium till the end of time

And watch time play.

So just, why don’t you toss it away?

The ring that shines

What does it remind?

Is there someone it reminds you of?

Let it slip out and roll away.

Your scarf is blue

And strangling you

Let the greedy wind take it away

As you sway

Swinging you hair

Your head like a pendulum

Writing in the nude

 There is a mask you wear

It is made of your skin and hair

Peel it off, scratch it away.

You ought to try it sometimes

Writing in the nude

Living in the nude.

BEGGING

I came to your door

for alms,

and inspiration...

My bowl was empty but shining,

Your large eyes reflected in its convex depths.