In a tearing hurry, came the clouds
bellies fat, moods dark
They swallowed the moon
They chewed the stars
     each one
          one by one
Whole night the show was on
boom bang – fury & twang

When they were done,
I surveyed my ground:
     dripping trees
          shivering leaves
               wet petals
          twinkle eyes
     an azure sky, and
One angry sun.

gently i descend the heavens,
on a feathery whiff
silky mane fluttering.

approaching planet
deep blue
or, is it
some shade of grey?

landed on
umm... helipad?

i fill my lungs
with the air perfumed
  cough cough
-- maybe not.

so much for
mama' s tall tales!

kicking a hoof,
leap i go
into the nearest forest
or, whatever is left of it.

a giant once walked this land
gautama, the Buddha
a giant, if ever there was one

hearts this parched,
minds this feeble.
for such a tribe,
why did he walk
the walk?

he saw -
clear,
and loud

each of us
has the spark
to be -
the giant that he was.

death?
an image,
of what would be (or could be).
a projection of the mind.

life?
in the face, against the skin
the raw fact, pulsating
buzz...
the real.

life is
a struggle.
life has to be earned -
each day.
making choices,
reviewing old ones.

newborn's first cry!
the urgency, the hunger,
with which we arrive.

Life&Death is -
a daily affair.
let the meaningful live.
let the pointless die.
each day.
  each moment.
    this very moment.

[ Translation of Ghazal
“Dil Mein Ek Lehar Si Uthi Hai Abhi”
Poet: Nasir Kazmi ]

Heart flutters –
with a new beat
A fresh breeze is on the move

An uproar in cavern-of-heart,
down goes
     some wall

Fragile spirits
and now, a new scar

Foggy ghosts of forgotten isles
still –
echo your voice

Down the dark alleys
searching …
for you

i heard
about many rescues.

rescued from the tower,
left in a dinghy.
rescued from the dinghy,
left on a island.

i also heard
about the final act
The act of waking up, and
rescuing oneself.

then, LIFE!

midnight sounds
of countless crickets –
     air conditioner joins in

if i may,
where do you live?
where do you breathe?
whence do i seek?

shall i plunder some far-away lands
or, behold the wildflowers sprouting on my roof?
shall i aim the telescope at milky way
or, melt into my love's mellow eyes?

you see, i was told --
poetry arrives donning pieces of the seeker,
pieces long lost, or yet to be found.

out and about
in the rain -
dragonflies

Snail
overtakes a car
in my driveway . . .

today
just half a slice -
     in the sky

street dogs
settle some issue, while
     the neighborhood sleeps

this evening,
moon is aloof and pale ...
miss the sun, my friend?

Breath
rushes in.
moves out.

Again,
   rushes in.

Who breathes?
does anyone, at all?
Amazing!

blazing sun
sends his love --
       sweet mangoes

bright full moon
rises over the horizon, and
     entangles in the mobile tower

pond reflects
the clouds, which
tumbled in yesterday

we walk on a razor's edge,
you and me.

i am trying hard
not to stumble.

walk on dear,
past the grave.
walk tall,
walk perfect.
ok, perfect may take a little time.

i admit though,
that was one good walk.

tulsi bush sways
left and right
music, by crickets

on front porch
upright i stand, balancing
a million stars

"yes, ma'am" "yes, ma'am" ...
rings out at my home
lockdown side-effects

midnight rain
jasmine branch
  nods approvingly

trailing fluff
a doughnut cloud
flies east

dark and menacing,
an army is on the move
in eastern sky

sweet slumber
neighbor's child -
calling granny