Eid Mubarak, Meri Jaan!

That morning

When you wake me up

And whisper

Eid Mubarak, jaan!

And I reply with a kiss

Khair Mubarak, meri jaan!

This is what you’re going to miss

If you won’t come tonight

There is no Eid without you…

Black Hole

Of all the countless dresses in your wardrobe

That finely fashioned black dress

Is a black hole to my galaxy

All my swarming thoughts

All my restive words

All my orbiting emotions

Nothing escapes

When you come wearing it

And ask me

“I am going to leave soon

You want to tell me something?”

All That Is Left Is You

Shut me in your eyes

Melt me under your skin

This world has lost its soul

All that is left is you

Kill me with your own hands

If love is hard to come

Resurrect me with your anger

This world has lost its soul

All that is left is you

The gardens of your words

Are full of red roses

Send me one

Revive me from the dead

Bury me in your arms

This world has lost its soul

All that is left is you

Cut through my ribs

Hold my heart in your palm

Read holy verses over it

Kiss me back to life

Come sooner

Take me away

From my dead life

This world has lost its soul

All that is left is you

Ugly Language

How does language become ugly?

When a child learns to curse?

When pain finds a cruel face?

Or when hatred finds a politician’s tongue?

How does language become ugly?

When religion finds a king?

When silence swindles money?

Or when faith creates an enemy?

How does language become ugly?

Language becomes ugly

When it forgets its true purpose

Birthday Gift

“Acha suno

Tumhe apne janamdin pe

Kya tohfa chahiye?”

“Tum”

“Kuch aisa maango

Jo tumhare paas na ho”

Lamp

Of all the things

You gracefully talk about

Clothes, curtains, furniture

Utensils, crockery, tea-flavours

And all the fine luxuries of life

I want to be the lamp

At the side of your bed

And read with you

All the books you read

Before you blissfully fall asleep

Syllabus

Woh kehti hai

Mai kitaab nahi padti

Aur fir

Poori poori raat

Mujhe

Ek nayi Kitaab ki tarah

Padhti rehti hai