Month: March 2008

i saw the beams of the temple, still intact after centuries

so many quakes came and destroyed the buildings but this temple still stands

why do some people design structure to survive

centuries

why do some people see that long

why is yearning for life lead them to aim so distant a dream

why

when two rivers like the bosoms of a mother flow

and feed the new born children

nothing more remains to be said about the moment,

tenderness or art or a divided self and its heart

but then mother has not been fed for long

she is feeling guilty that the kids are not fed properly

she wishes that her breast sbe cut and she be denuded of the source

but then who will do that, every body looks around

we decide to damn the river but do not nurture the source

she cries and the kids become silent

they have learned to be silent when

mother cries

you have a garden on the roof

every time i climb the stairs i smell the aroma

i some times just stop and stare out fo windows

i do not see any other garden in the region

why are there no gardens around

have all bees collaborated to pollinate flowers

this season, will they claim the nectar  also

does every pollinator get nectar

i do not know if that is true, will that be a sweet smooth bargain

but i am not climbing steps

for any bargain

i am coming because i know

i can be asked to go back

because some one else is tending the garden then

liek an egg plant, you  may roast a relationship

and some cracks may appear on the surface

but as long as inner core is soft and pliable,

why not keep working on it

when the doorbell rang,, i did  do not know

should i open the door

or let him wait

i asked him to return

because i did not have any space

in my inn

lot of travellers had already occupied every corner there

but this traveller was insistent

he will not go away

if only he coudl sit in a corner

it was very cold outside

and warmth of the inn

at this hour

was the only way, he could wait for the morning

i let him in and then saw

he was not able to sit too long

tired and fatigued, he slept away, resting his head

on the wall

which now had some cracks

kuchh galatiyan hamse gar yun hi hoti raheyn

shikayateyn ko shayad phir waqt hi na miley

manjiley na miley, rastey na kateyn

lekin asmaan se kuchh tarey girtey rahen

koi manaey unhey apshakun, koi dekhey unmey ummeed

ham bekhabar ho unki kismat ko likhatey rahen

tum azaad ho, ham hai gulam, lekin khamoshiyan ki juban sunatey rahey

kisee ko na ho gam, duban apni kishti, lehron ki bhukh ham bas yuhin mitatety rahey

resort was crowded
because all holiday makers
descended here
and found fire
but no fire flies
ire of those
who came late and
complained, there was
no friendship here, no allies

i am now sitting quiet,

waiting for the crowd to thin
and may be then
there will be vapour in the crucible
placed on the fire
with a few tears saved from yesterday night
when i met her
alone and devoid of all stinging
nettles
she often tied in her hairs

‘2004

wronged you, wronged myself, who got it right then

why did i have to hurt you

why did i get hurt

whey do we get hurt

are the bonds to be,

really the claims of sea

which will swallow

no matter how they appear, hollow

all the dreams

i saw, you saw

my question

you are my question

tired tranquility asked me , why
why are you so impatient,
why do not you go and retire
how could i even suggest
the winds are not so strong that sails
of my boat can be filled
and i go away
but then you would not let me anchor here for too long
may be i should sink the boat
forget swimming
and let the waves carry me in their arms
some where
where there is no fatigue
and no sleep