8.20.2025

Us dang se bolte the

I used to write in images- now I just speak my mind. Have I lost my footing in the world that wraps around? Wind sweeping on a cold fall day, slapping my face and bellowing through soft clothes, reminding me of my fragile bones chilling, convulsing in a shiver. 

I used to feel the rhythm of language, each word in its place, each word in its time. Some hitting like a hammer, others waving with one other like a wind chime- writing with a fever for the musicality of rhyme. 

I used to write with all my senses, even if just in metaphors. I was a sky of many colors- orange, pink, and darkening late evening blue. The elements had importance, too: air, water, earth, and fire- changing forms with moods. Feeling now like a pond nearing evaporation, and now overflowing its sloshing muddy banks. 

Craggy, mountainous terrains on maps of obstacles. Falling burning limbs of forest fire telling of hopeless desire. Empty space and invisible distance, showing up as stretched-out arms. 

But now the abstract unfolds more freely, in the flipping pages of my book, and I’m here still, sitting with that vacant look. 

1996-1999-2025->.....................!

 My Tribute to Azhar

Kya baat, kya koshish

Kitne soch ko nikaldiye aap

Kitna jukh jukh ho ke focus

 

Litakthe hue Quran

Apne kande par nahi,

Lekin sir ki bilkul samne

 

Woh savaal hi puchte rehti

Pakistan bhi me

 

Ki yeh Aadmi hai ya kilhadi?

Yeh killhadi hai ya toh jihadi?

 

Bool jate ki kilhadi bhi ji the hain

Kel ke aakir ki baad

Aap bhi koya hai

Woh kilhadi ki kel

 

Voh chandaar balyabaazi ki bail

Voh Papaji ki chain mail

 

Kapil bhi rohte, apne liye yah toh kisliye?

Jab ek pura neeche vale ke log ki captain the aap

Aur upar vale ka bhi

 

Aap ki jhuk jhuk kande par

Ham duniya dekha tha

Eden Garden ki rassi ki andar

 

Ham rakhi jaise banda

Bhai- bhai

Tab bhai behan

Tab dost dushmon

Aur sala friend

 

Aur yeh masala mein

Ek lakh log aapki ped ko jukh ke kade hogaye

Nachte hue

Ithihas ki niyam ki rokhai me

 

Kya baat, aapki bat

Kya chalan, aage-peeche

Koy nahi nuxan

Aur log abhi bhi bolte hain

 

Aap jaada time diye ham sab ko

Binha kuch mangke

 

"bas khelne doh"

Kurukshetra ki ane ke liye kaafi gante hai abhi bhi