चाय

गरम चाय की फरमाइश थी।

गर्मियों में भी, 

गरमागरम 

गपशप की कुछ और ही बात है।

बीते हुए ज़माने की ,

आज के उबढ़ खाबढ़ की, 

चीनी और दूध के 

मिलावट की ,

चाय के साथ 

सुढ़ सुढ़ के 

पी रहे थे। 

स्टाल में अड्डा बनाके ,

बैठ जाते थे 

अपनी  प्लेट में 

नमकीन बिस्कुट लिए।

चाय के बहाने ,

घुल जाते थे हम भी 

शोर के भंवर में .

समय भी 

चाय में दुबकी लगाता  रहता।

बना देता,  

चाय के स्वाद को 

मीठे से, 

नमकीन से, 

गंभीर।

जब चाय ठंडी हो गयी 

तो समय भी बह कर काला हो गया।

गटक लिया तक्कलुफ़ को

जो ख़ामोशी के आखरी पलों में  

जल्दबाजी से भर दिया गया। 

रह गया 

सिर्फ़  

खाली कप।

बची हुई 

चाय की काली पत्तियां ,

जो तेर कर ऊपर न आ सकीं ,

और डूबा हुआ 

बिस्कुट का चूरा ने 

अपनी किस्मत को 

कबूल कर लिया। 

धुला हुआ कप ने 

फिर गरम चाय से 

नयी गप शप की चाबी 

भर डाली। 

There is Death

There is death on the streets
In the evening when they pray.
Can you hear the crowds mourning?
Can you hear what they say?


There is death in the forest
They were in somebody's way.
Can you hear the trees mourning?
Can you hear what they say?


There is death in the valley
With the terror that they slay.
Can you hear the mountains mourning?

Can you hear what they say?

We stand here in our noises

Listening to muted voices.

We stand in empty spaces

Seeing too distant faces.

We stand in gloved hands

As blood trickles down the sands.

There is death out the window

In the night, in the day.

Can you hear the silence mourning?

Do you think you'll get away?

Moments of Weakness

So when I looked out of my window,

I saw the tree glimmer

In the orange light

Of the street lamp.

The wind blew so softly,

I could only feel it

Through the swaying of the leaves. 

It was late and you were asleep.

And yet I wanted to hold you close

Feel your finger tips 

On my parched lips,

Like the wind teased

The leaves with the promise of rain. 

So when I looked out of my window,

I saw an earthen lamp

Fighting the glow

Of the street lamp.

The wind blew so softly,

I could only feel it 

Through the dance of the flame.

It was late and you were away.

And yet I wanted to look in your eyes

With my fingers trace

Down your hidden face,  

Like the smoke rises

And envelopes the burning wick.

So when I looked out of my window,

I saw its black grills

Tinted with the orange

Of the street lamp.

The wind blew so softly

I could only feel it

Through the shifting colours.    

It was late and I was still awake.

So I lay with you in my dreams

Your fingers fully entwined 

Between the spaces of mine.

Like shadows fall

On edges and walls

After they dissolve 

Through glass windows.