Untitled

I won't tell you

                                                            I  love you.

Some words

are best left

                                  hanging

                                                          undisturbed

between the space

                                                          of bodies
                                                 wrapped 

                                                   in the warmth

                                                      of forgiveness.

Drying sari, Varanasi
By maree, India mike

रण नीति

जब जंग के बिगुल बज उठेंगे
और रणहुंकार की गरज
भोर की चहचाहट को मसल कर
धरती पर खून बहायेगा -
हम में से कुछ
खुशनसीब होंगे
जिनकी जिस्म और रूह
पल भर में
छितरी छितरी हो जायेंगी ।

हम में से जो बचे रहेंगे-
वो चुप चाप
हज़ारों छोटे छोटे ज़ख्मों से
सूख कर
जहन्नुम के भी
बंद दरवाज़ों को
खटखटाते रह जाएंगे।

Haikus

Leaves in the full moon

Were a translucent curtain

On a mayna's wedding night.

-----

Dark dangerous pools

Will swirl in her shadowed eyes

Look away or fall.

-----

The clothes need washing

But arms are too heavy to

Carry any more.

-----

Water trickles down

They have been trying for years

To wash blood off hands.

-----

Light falls on opened

Books whose pages have darkened

Like an old man's wit.

-----

Maybe you should go now

I can't bear your hand on mine

Fire burns fire.

-----

The fire burns brightly

Children will touch the embers

Don't be late tonight. 

-----

Her expression changed

As she clutched her phone tightly

Zero battery.

-----

Woodblock print

Katsushika Hokusai

Isn't it the worst 

When after a hot shower

Your slipper are wet?

----

No one ever knew 

When they met for the first time

It was beautiful.