नज़र मिला

These poems traverse the themes of being & relationships: of the conflict between where one is and how one wants to be, of the inevitable joys and false pleasures in disenchanting engagements and of vulnerability and the image of being open yet invincible.

This collection of 15 texts in verse is the third volume of poems on the self. 7 of these poems were written in 2019 and 6 in 2017, while the remaining two were written in 2021 of which क़िस्मत was originally penned in 2000 but recreated this June.

All 7 poems of 2019, except बू हूँ मैं are in English, while the 6 from 2020 and 2 from 2021 have equal numbers in English and Hindustani both.

15.10.21

बू हूँ मैं

अपने नासूर-ए-बू में
मदहोश हूँ मैं
ग़लतफ़हमियाँ रूबरू
ख़ामोश हूँ मैं

क्या क़र्ज़ क्या एहसान
न फ़र्ज़ न फ़रमान
नफ़रत के तराज़ू में
फरामोश हूँ मैं

30.05.21

Seeking Kindness

I have often been made
Aware of the harshness
In the tone of my voice
It is as if my insecurities
Spray a reckless barrage
Of unkindness all around

Is it mere coincidence then
That my sinuses are
Almost always inflamed
Through day, night & seasons
Leaking mucus into my
Throat to make it hoarse

07.07.21