anil gupta's blog

heard about a cloud burst,
thought how impatient it must have been
but i know a cloud
which has not rained for long

steps of a staircase, winding around walls
have not yet finished
let me climb a bit more
who knows
whether the roof will show all the sun rays
that lay scattered there for so long
in wait of shadows
that i bring with me in my bag on my back

can i step out
it is no more as wet
as to
splash drops on those
who do not wish to be disturbed
by my walk along the path
on which we walked together
for so long
unquestioned, undisturbed

when simmering sounds of empty flute reach far

we dont care about who is the player

but the solace is in listening

quietly

no matter how much it rains

i am not wet still

who is

leaves of a dry tree

have already fallen

dont say any thing

let me listen to this

through inner ears

that only listen when i am quiet,

 and when you also dont say any thing

when the rains are not able to wash away

stains of  memories

sustained by bruises one suffers while climbing the steps to your temple

through uncharted paths

full of thorny bushes

allowed to grow

 deliberately to keep away

all those whose yearnings may violate the memoryscapes of those clouds

which have  been waiting to rain

in your courtyard

O Ma Kaali

 that is the way you shower

your blessings

 i have learned now

under the shadow of all the clouds that did not rain this year too

   kya isee tarah sunwayi hoti hai tumharey darbar mein

jo bhi ho mujrim

jiski bhi hoshikayat

saza sirf usee ko milti hai jo sacha hai

chahey uski fariyad kahi jayey ya na,

 chahey uski fariyad suni jayey ha na

shayad sahi hi to hai,

saza hi praman hai ki

sunwayi ho rahi hai

kiski, isse kya farak padta hai

phir samet lo meri salvaton ko

apney haathon mein

aaj ek baar

le jao sabhi lehron ko jinmey mein ghuli hai

thodi anban, thodi tanah navo ki asthiyan

le jao, samet lo meri salvaton ko phir ek baar apney hathon mein

thaki si hai kaya meri,

dhundli  si hai maya teri

aisey me Ma Kaali phir se meri na le pareeksha

mujhey mit jaaney dey,

bas phir ek baar waisey hi

jaise andhiyan le jaati hain

sukhi pattiyon ko kahin khad bananey ko,

le jao mujhey bhi ab akhiri baar, le jaao

may the path ahead be pleasant for you,

o traveller

go and bless the shadows of the trees

that saved you from the heat

and also bless those bamboo groves

which saved  you from the storms

but then remember,

once in a while

those small pools of water on the roadside

in which you cooled your heels

washed the dust off,

 so that it feels

cool, clean and calm

go away traveller, go away

your memory is like a cool balm

i walked with you all these years

as fast as i could

will you pause a bit now

i can not walk fast any longer

but then i am still walking

often alone

because you are always traveling

or sittiong before your computer

is this how one rewards the patience and persistence

ask yourself

ah!!