Migrant Labourer

मिट चली हैं लकीरें मेरी हथेली से
अपनी तक़दीर से आज़ाद हो चला हूँ मैं
खूं जम गया है पेशानी पे पसीने की जगह
अपने हुनर का खुद शाहकार बन चला हूँ मैं

चाँद सिकों पे बिकता था कभी बाज़ारों में
अब मेरी भूख सियसत के दहकन भरती है
मेरे ज़ख़्मों को दुनिया पे नुमाया कर के
मेरे खैरख़्वाहों की तिजोरियाँ भारती है
मेरी तस्वीर यूँ हर ओर लगाई जाती है
जैसे नुमाइश का सामान बन चला हूँ मैं
अपने हुनर का खुद शाहकार बन चला हूँ मैं 

Yadein

Har ek din jo guzar chuka thha
har ek pal uska yaad aaya
woh ek sakit thha pul nadi pe
lehrata lehron pe apna saya...
woh nadi ka pani,
samamder mein mil ke
ab kaisa kosa sa ho gaya hai!
kabhi jo meetha sa bulbula tha,
samay ke banzar mein kho gaya hai.
woh bheegi yaadien phir aaj meri
ankhein purnam si kar gayi hain
jo jhar chali si thhi shakh uske
patton pe shabnam si rakh gayi hai…

Kasturi

Teri Khushboo se Mehak rahi hoon main
Tu mrig trishna bhi hai, aur kasturi bhi
Tu mujh mein basta hai lekin mere paas nahi
Dekh qurbat bhi hai our beinteha doori bhi

Mazdoori aur majboori

Shahenshaon ne shahrahon mein munadi kar di
Reshmi paerhan na ho to idhar se na aae koi
Rail ki patri per aa kar yun soye thhe garib
Bhookh ki aag mein zinda na jalaye koi
Main aur maiy ke talatum mein dhanse jate hai
Kahin se aaina laye, inhe dikhaye koi

An Ode to Manto. Janab Manto Ke Naam...

sach ka dayra chota ho gaya hai, 

main, mera mazhab, meri jamat, mera mohalla, mera ghar

Aur iske pare -  

Tum, tumhara mazhab, tumhari jamat, tumhara mohalla, tumhara ghar 

main apne gharon ke seeshon ke aage 

takhtiyan laga kar 

ek dhela uthata hoon, 

tum apni deewaron ki dararon se 

teer chalate ho  

sang takrate hain 

tilak aur topi se, 

teer bindhte hain use 

jo sar utha ke chalta hai 

mera sach 

mere angan mein simat jata hai, 

tumhara sach 

deewaron se jhantka tak nahi

koi munsib bhi bhala kaise faisla de de, 

aankhein moonde woh padle ka wajan tolta hai... 

kabhi mera pathhar bhari padta hai, 

kabhi tumhara tarkash 

aur sach 

andhe kuen mein kood ke mar jata hai

Come, Find Me

Chasing the fading rays of a setting sun
I have wandered in search of a bright star.
Shrouded in mist, moist to the feet
the path, that wasn’t quite there
intrigued, beckoned,
lured me to go on.
The shadows grew longer
of the stunted self,
the more I searched
the more I lost sight
of what I couldn’t see.
I waited to decipher
the hidden note
in every sound
around the buzz;
opened empty letters
addressed to none
staring at the formless
with eyes, not sight.
Breath becomes a sigh
I exhale exhaustion
Put my feet up.
I, now, withdraw
from this aimless chase.
I pause
and wait
Come on,
It’s your turn now...
my poem.
Seek me out
of the idle mind
sing out aloud
through me.
See...
I am waiting
for your return.

Being Judgemental

Standing in the shade

with lengthening shadows

I see surfers

soaring with the tides

Couples

walking hand in hand

on wet sand,

Kids

building castle

Bandanas- bright green, orange, red..

myriad hues and colors

fluttering threateningly,

almost flying off

the small brown hands

offering them to every passerby.

Everyone is living their day,

as destined

or, designed.

Do they grudge my shade?

Or is it me

carrying the guilt

of my own idleness?