Surgery – Emergency

A part of me
which wasn’t me
I tore it
away

it feasted on me
its fangs
within me
deep

on my face
over my flesh
it pretended
to be me

fooled everyone
with its
incredible magic
including me

till it tore
into my heart
threatening to steal
what was me

and then I knew
for the options were few
it needed
to be surgically removed

and that’s
what I did
a surgery
much delayed

cutting away
what wasn’t me
to reveal
what was truly me

Ye rumani Mausam

है रास्ता धुंधला
बूँदों से है मैला
हूँ में वक़्त का मुसाफ़िर
है हर लम्हा अकेला

बादलों से मिलने
है लहरों ने ली छलांग
कह रही है चिल्ला चिल्ला के ये पवन
आने वाला है तूफ़ान

है दोस्त मेरा, ये मौसम
है ये ऋत, जानी पहचानी
है कुछ मेरे ही जैसा
थोड़ा संजीदा, थोड़ा रूमानी

Memories trapped in Pictures

Now
that the celebrations end
And
The glasses lie empty
The meaning is clear
Beyond the sparkle

Now
that the cacophony ends
And
the din is quiet
the vision is clear
Beyond the blur

Now
That the goodbyes are done
And
The home is empty
The feeling is clear
Beyond the smiles

Now
That moments are still
Trapped in pictures
The memories are clear
Plucked out from time
Etched beyond time

Now
That I look back, I know
That, it is the Moments fill life
Not, the passing time
And the moments
Filled with happy memories
go beyond forever

I am glad
You were there
To fill my moments
With happiness
And to have made memories
That are
ours forever

House of Wood

पेड़ के तने पर
है एक काठ का घर
है घर जैसा
पर अपना नहीं

कुछ तिनकों से
सजाना होगा
है सुंदर
पर अभी अपना नहीं

मोहब्बत से रंगना होगा
ख़्वाहिशों को सच बनाना होगा
तब होगा सच, अपना कल
सिर्फ़ रहेगा एक सपना नहीं

नये पंख उड़ेंगे
अपना आसमान ढूँढेंगे
होगी नई शुरुआत
उन हवाओं में कहीं

पेड़ पर कीलों से टंगा
ये घर
होगा जब यादों से सजा
होगा ये घर, अपना तभी

पेड़ के तने पर
है एक काट घर
उम्मीदों से भरा, सपनों से सजा
होगा अपना घरौंदा कभी

I still use

What’s the oldest thing you own that you still use daily?

I hold
a gene set
handed down
through the generations
that I still use

the curve
of my nose
the crinkle
of my eye
that I still use

the attitude
towards life
the education
I gathered
that I still use

the earth
that I walk on
the air
that I breath
that I still use

the burning sun
the impatient wind
that smell
in the flower
I still use

I still hold the jeans
weathered and tattered
yet comfortably mine
it fits me
and that too
I still use