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

Cost of Bliss

Time for check in
Was later
And for check out
Was early

The place
was a beauty
heavenly
I could say

Somethings
were paid for
For others
there was a cost

Everything was desirable
Everything I wanted
The time
however was limited

Too many choices
too many sights
initial moments were spent
To orient and prioritise

There was
no time to lose
Each moment counted
Every minute costed

There was
No time to lose
No time to crib
of what wasn’t there

Once this was realised
we maximised
Each moment
Making every moment count

But it ended,
as everything does
When we stopped worrying
And started to have fun

We checked out
Physically at least
For my mind and desires
Still stayed on

Craving to return
To linger for ever
But it costs, I was told
If I linger

The place, as I said
Was almost heavenly, yet not heaven
Here, there is a cost
For being in bliss

Unplugged

There is a cord
Hanging and tangled
Running the full length
till it wraps
the senses

there is a trap
binding and comforting
numbing the world
till it creates
those fences

there lies the ‘likes’
and there lies ‘dislikes’ too
lured by satisfaction
till it forms
the pretences

there lies the edge of the hole
inviting and scary
can’t stop the slide
till it
reaches the endless end

there lies the predator
it feeds you
till you feed on it
and invade
your defences

unplug the cord
pull away with all you got
peel away the mask
for that’s what you are
unplugged