Muted Witness

Not long ago
we were talking about
who is a better pest - Jay or Jo?!
who is a sweeter idiot - Archu or Hobbes?!

Not long ago
you were yourself
Now-
you are here
yet you are no more
after you returned
with your pink shirt turned black

I wish you had died with the rest.

Tell me, Sri
Tell me when did it snap-
that something in you?
When you heard loud panic?
or when you saw charred faces fall?
or when you felt the resonating wails
ask why some stories end suddenly without an end?

Have not moths burning in candle light
always been a romantic notion in your poetry?
then why?
you said - Crowds are an ugly pain
now you see the flood of empty space
you said - you hate noise & cacophony
now you have silence burning
then -
why?
Tell me, you fool.
move a lip
move a limb

I wish you had died with the rest.

Now I know
the dead are better off
as numbers in the headlines.

Tafreeh

aao
raat bhar
baat karte chalein
saath marte chalein

aao
raat bhar
raat bharte chalein
haath dharke chalein

raatein tarse jo kabhi to dooja chand ugal jaaye
baatein barse jo kabhi to thodi neend nigal jaaye

kahin to hoga koi
jaga jaga apna saga
yunhi masroof majboor hoga

jagah koi jism hogi
vajah koi rasm hogi
dhoondhte hain
chal na

---------------------------------

aao
bujhe lab pe
lafz jalaa de
lafz chadhaa de

aao
mare shab ki
nabz jagaa de
nabz chalaa de

jabeen pe bhatki khaali takdeer ke zakhm bhar de
zubaan pe atki khamosh tasveer ko khatm kar de

kahin to hoga koi
jaga jaga apna saga
yunhi gumraah gumnaam hoga

jagah koi jism hogi
subah hawa bhasm hogi
soonghte hain
chal na
-----------------------------------

Recreation - is it a choice or an obligation?

Death of a Blue Moon

It has been quite a while
since we last mourned the moon.
So you finally heard that-
you owe me - freedom;
I thought you wouldn't!
I just noticed - I died again last night,
when the dark winds smelled of you.
Not fair?

The wheels went by my house,
leaving an empty evening on the tracks.
I wanted to do that too;
so I did.
I just noticed - I died again last night;
I couldn't get enough of nothing.
Not fair?

It happened now-
it will happen again.
Life - is it not a verb in the past tense?
Emotions - are they not pixelated dreams?
I just noticed - I died again last night,
in a vain attempt to escape answers.
Not fair?

It is about time,
I wrote an obituary
and put together an epitaph
for myself.
I just noticed - I died again last night,
leaving no hint - I have moved on.
Not fair at all!!

So I write-
I died again last night.
Were you the one who killed me?

AasmaaN

chanda pe chandi khilaa aaya hooN
suraj pe sona jalaa aaya hooN

bas thodi si kami baaki hai

sochta hooN-
thoda sa aasmaaN bhi daalooN
neela sa aasmaaN jee daalooN

-------------------------

baadalke neeche baitha hai
kyuN kal ko kheeNche baitha hai
yuN palkeiN meeNche baitha hai

saanseiN phir bhi pyaasi haiN

sochta hooN-
geela sa aasmaaN pee daalooN
neela sa aasmaaN jee daalooN

---------------------------
baatoN ke sang udaaooN
raatoN pe zang chadhaooN
haathoN se jang ladaaooN

badri ne raham maangi hai

sochta hooN-
dheela sa aasmaaN see daalooN
neela sa aasmaaN jee daalooN

A Place called Love

Is there a place
between noise & nothingness?

Is there a place
where the sky turns green?
I have seen the sky
in all hues-
white, orange, grey, pink, black, blue!!

Is there a place
where David & Goliath make love?

Is there a place
where stories do not grow old
where summers do not go cold
in waiting picture frames?

Is there a place
where twilight flutters & falters
when it breathes against skin?

I will find that place
for you
Will you come away with me?

A raised brow looked back at me

I read
a moist steel grey smirk
in those eyes

Up yours! Of course!!
Get the laundry basket