Ambar ki aftaabi mein muskurata hai tu
Samundar ki gehrayeon se gunjtah hai tu
al-Ala As-Salām, al-ʻAziz As-Salām

Darkht ke  har patton mein lehrata hai tu
Baarish ki har boond se barasta hai tu
al-Ala As-Salām, al-ʻAziz As-Salām

Har takhayyul mein nazar aaye tera hi kalam
Innayat rahe hum pe sada tera bas karam
al-Ala As-Salām, al-ʻAziz As-Salām

Har tassavur mein hai  teri hi tasveer
Muqqamal karde ab meri bhi taqdeer
al-Ala As-Salām, al-ʻAziz As-Salām

Har nabz ke tarranum mein gun gunata hai tu
Har labz ko mere haathon se likhata hai tu
al-Ala As-Salām, al-ʻAziz As-Salām

Kabool kare meri ibadat mera ye junoon
samet le kadmo mein, mil jaye sukoon
al-Ala As-Salām, al-ʻAziz As-Salām

Translation
Your smile is in the radiance of the skies
Your sounds echo  from the depths of the ocean
the most High, source of peace, the most glorious , source of peace

You sway in every leaf of a tree
you are in every drop of the rains
the most High, source of peace, the most glorious , source of peace

behind every thought is your pen
continue to grace us always with kindness
the most High, source of peace, the most glorious , source of peace

In every portrait, I see your image
help me complete my destiny
the most High, source of peace, the most glorious , source of peace

you are the hum in the melody of every pulse
My hands are mere instruments of your every word
the most High, source of peace, the most glorious , source of peace

Accept my worship, and my fervour
absorb me into your feet, and grant me peace
the most High, source of peace, the most glorious , source of peace

Do you want
to hear
a story droll?
About a dog
with a kind
soul

Outside,
that night,
I heard the winds howl
Inside
was the sound
of an intermittent growl

I opened the door and he
slipped out
Some time later, he
came back with a pout

Reprimanded he was
for coming back
with a muddy taint.
Remorseless,
head raised, he
stood there defiant.

“Okay, Scot!
Let’s see what you got”

He gently
dropped
his big scowl
and Out fell,
in my palms,
a baby owl!

Apparently he had
peeped far
from his tree hole
When Scot was
beneath that tree
sniffing a mole

Frightened but fine,
the owlet
was a bit choosy
So we went,
to put him back,
in his tree hole cosy!

An infant is born
An infant is born
It is a baby boy!

Come one
Come all
To greet this baby doll

May his life be long
May his limbs grow strong
May his smiles prolong

May he have tons of fun
Out in the open sun
As he learns to walk and run

From a cherub to a tot
To a happy young colt
May his growth be a  happy trot

Let him wander everywhere
Let him stumble here and there
Let him learn to give and share

Teach him folklore
Tell him tales of yore
Of both valor and  of gore

Make him well grounded
Very well  rounded
but certainly not bounded

Fetter him not with ties
As he reaches for the skies
With his endless why's

Teach him to embrace
Every culture, every race
As you try and keep your pace

Keep him away from Apathy
And teach  him the art of empathy
And  the wisdom of sympathy

May his shoulders grow wide
With his every adult  stride
As you look on with pride

May your love shine in his eyes
May your blessings make him wise
May he always be very nice

May his life be of his choosing
May his deeds be outstanding
May his love be continuing


An infant is born
An infant is born
It is a baby boy!


The End!

I envision
A mesmerizing meeting of our minds
I envision
A synchronous beating of our hearts
I envision
A torrid tempestuous teaming of torsos
I envision a symphony of our souls
I envision a
Love so potent, so profound
A paean perhaps to paradise found

Eyes

Ice-Lolly

Melting

Life and death are
but one
In dimensions two

In the very beginning of time
there was fear of life
and a desire for death

Until one day
fear and desire
places changed

Now
Life is desired
And death feared

Life and death are but one
In dimensions two

Riveting was his gaze
disturbed my response
my heart skipped a beat
did he  think I would cheat
or make a hasty retreat
taut was the silence
before I showed him my moves
he caught on a bit late
as I softly whispered
check! my  dear mate!

A new dawn bathed in dew
I have possessions few
As I walk towards You

Awe in my eyes and a prayer in my heart,
I have a song in my soul
As I walk towards You

I feel light as a feather
That floats in all weather
As I walk towards You

I see how the vast open space
Holds the earth in it's embrace
As I walk towards You

I savor the serene silence
And fathom the reason for our existence
As I walk towards You

I feel your divine grace
Comfort and solace
As I walk towards You

A new dawn bathed in dew
I have possessions few
As I walk towards You

Languid lives we lead
lazing in front of a screen
content to hear and see
images playing out a life
idyllic or illusionary

Secure and happy with no fear
Lest we get too attached dear
We build no real contacts
Content with signed contracts

Distant from the heart we pray
Please stay away, stay away
I am happy in my glassy island
With pebbles, moss and some sand!

As I walk
I ruminate
on death and life
On why there is so much love
And so much strife

The heart it’s nature intrinsic
Is to seek
The bonds that bind
The soul to the earth

The heart is tied to a nodal beat
And functions to generate ****** heat
To celebrate this life  full and enjoy
To love another with complete joy

The soul’s mission extrinsic
Is to simply soar majestic
Created a free verse
It desires to float in the universe

The heart was formed at this birth
The soul existed before birth
And shall exist after death

This difference between the heart and soul
Is the reason for our sorrows sole!
Why then you cry my dear friend
For there is no meaning to our earthly end

There is simply no premise
For the sadness of this corporeal demise
For the soul was born to journey endless
To be merged with Brahman consciousness
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahman
Author Notes

Zindagi ne, is kaddar, kiya hai,  bas vaar
Bina koi,  churee,  ya koi,  talwaar

Ghaayal; dil ye hua,  baar, baar
Zindagi ne, di,  chotain hazaar

Gaye thay,  hum,  is tarah se,  bikhar
jooda na, paye thay phirse ye jigar

khaamoshi se, milta tha,  bas, karaar
tanhayeeon se , karte thay, iqraar

Jhanke, hum jab, dil ke, jo andar
Sach nikala, gehrayion se, baahar

Shikayat hai, ab na, koi takraar
karne lage hai, hum, khudse jo pyaar!



Translation in English

Self Love


Life has waged on me many a war
Without even a sword or a dagger so far

The heart was wounded time and again
Life hurt and caused me so much pain

My life was but thrown helter skelter
I could not piece my heart together

Silence was but my solace
Solitude was my only grace

When I dug deep within me
The truth I could clearly see

I have no grievances or complaints now
Having realized the importance of self-love

Swaymvar- Wedding! With Translation in English

Kavi, tha khayalon me khoya
Dard-e -dil soch ke roya

Tab Apsara sundarsi hui prakat
Ahista se gayee Kavi ke nikat

Likhte kyun ** kavita hamesha udaas
Racho koi rachna jisme ** harsh-o- ulhas

Ghatne wali hai ghatna avismarniya
Reh jayega baki sub kuch asmarniya

Aney wali hai baraat aaj raat
Yahi kuch gyarah- barah baje ke baad

Chaand ke saath hogi chandni
Sitare layenge jhilmil roshni

Indra layenge varsha ko saath
Varun ayenge thamey badalon ka haath

Suraj layenge bas kiran ek
Teeno mil sajayenge indradhanush anek


Draupadi ke saath honge punch pandav
Shiv bhi karenge nritya tandav

Agni khud karenge havan
Halka sa jhonka denge Pavan

Patton se banegi chudiyan hari
Maang mein mitti hogi lal sindoori

Aasman mein cha jayega kala-neela sa rang
Krishna jab nachenge radha ke sang

Rachegi khoob ras leela wahan
Dekha na hoga kabhi ye jahan

Pakwan har ek hoga anvesh
Bhojan hoga bahut hi vishesh

Srishti banegi ati ati -sundar
Rachegi jab
Ambar aur dharti ka swayamvar!



Translation The Wedding!
The poet was lost in thought
Heartbroken and distraught

When appeared an Apsara ethereal
She touched his shoulder lightly

Why do you write poems full of sorrow
Do write some poems replete with joy

About to happen is an event memorable
Everything else will be forgettable

The bridegroom will ride on a chariot light
Around eleven-twelve tonight

The moon will swing in with his moonlight
The stars will twinkle on their own shining bright

Indra will bring along the rains
Varun will hold the clouds in rein

The sun will be present as a single ray
The trio will create a rainbow array

Draupadi will come with five pandav
Shiv will swirl to his Dance Tandav

Agni himself will do the Havan
Gentle breeze will be supplied by Pavan

The bangles will be made from leaves green
The color of the earth will be vermilon red

The sky will be decked in black and blue
When Krishna will dance with Radha his beloved true

There will be celebrations lavish
Mortals will be left in disbelief

The food will indeed be delectable
Each dish will be a creative spectacle!

Creation will be at her very best
When the earth and sky
will be in their union blessed.

That for whom I with fervor prayed
Are you that someone?

That whose poems are possessed of passions sweet
Are you that some one?

That whose nature like angels is
Are you that someone?

That whose eyes
view all as children of  God
Are you that someone?

That whose grace is like fragrance
Are you that someone?

That who in rhymes and rhythm I searched
Are you that someone?

That who can repose deep in my soul
Are you that someone?

That for whom I with fervor prayed
Are you that someone?

If I could I would
Course through your veins
Stream into your consciousness
And bask in the warmth of your beating heart!

Darwin caused quite the revolution
When he propounded the theory of evolution
From the amoeba to the **** sapiens
Gradual he said was the divergence


Bohr’s concept rang true
Matter made of atoms was his view
Protons and electrons spun in their own orbit
Holding life  in their ambit

The collisions creating energy kinetic
Life became electric
Theories became ecelectic
Men became a little neurotic!

The fall of the apple with spontaneity
Newton attributed to the law of gravity
Nothing in life could stay up for long
All to the earth belong!

Einstein’s thoughts took flight
and raced with the speed of light
With tremendous acuity
As he scripted the theory of relativity

Life was accidental
The discovery monumental
Chemistry was fundamental
Carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen, elemental


Watson and Crick sought to unravel
Two strands twisted in parallel
At the core of life lay
The magic of DNA

Space stretches endless
Through galaxies seamless
Artificial satellites do traverse
Yet unexplained remains the Universe

Physics became nuclear
Chemistry capable of terror
Biology turned molecular
Yet the meaning of life remained unclear

Emphasis laid on reason
And impeccable logic
Of analysis statistic
all things scientific


Bemusing and beguiling
Inspiring and Intriguing
Studied in parts never whole
Unfathomed yet is God’s role

Beyond reason lies intuition
That forms it’s own perception
Each of us have a vision of our own
Of God’s incredible creations

Deep in meditations
Unaware of limitations
Insight is incidental
Truth is transcendental!

Blades of grass in the periphery
running to keep up with the wind
the wind gathering great force
to catch up with the speed
of light.....

the light all knowing, eternal, immortal
peaceful light...

why the chase?

I am there wherever you are within you.

You stood by my side and you shared
the sounds of the seas with me,
the sea shells on the shores with me
the silence of the shining skies with me

You stood by my side and you shared
the solitude of my soul with me

You left me, and now I stand alone
watching the joys of my life recede
watching the sounds of laughter fade
watching my eyes lose their glimmer

You left me, and now I stand alone
watching my  soul adrift

Love and life
Take a walk together

Love asks life:
What will you be without  me?

Life smiles and says

Attached to none I am

Beauty or no beauty
Riches or no Riches
Purpose or no purpose
Pleasure or no pleasure
Hope or no hope

I stretch endless
I continue relentless
I was here before you came
I will be here after you are gone

But when you accompany me on my journey
Love,
You bring beauty
You bring riches
You bring purpose
You bring pleasure
You bring hope
For
You dear love
Are a true measure of me!

Kids all over the world
Send their prayers skyward
Hoping for something
That’ll make them dance and sing

Ring the bells, ring the bells
Of merriment and joy
Santa dear, Santa dear
Bring me my little toy

Dashing through December
Over the world he flies
Sliding down through chimneys
Bringing many a surprise

Ring the bells, ring the bells
Of laughter and of peace
Santa dear, Santa dear
Bless my home too, please

Wipe away our tears
Take away our fears
Let our hearts mingle
Let no heart stay single

Ring the bells, ring the bells
Of friendship and of love
Santa dear, Santa dear
Bless this world too now

Jingle bells Jingle bells
Jingle all the way!

Men and women all born to a creed
no creed an advocate for evil deeds
Savagery of the Peshawar kind
has more to do with an evil mind
that does not think nor analyze
blinded it is  by  emotions unwise
Biochemical imbalances of the brain
and a body bereft of a conscience
is that what makes them take an AK47
and wreak havoc on defenseless innocence

a satanic act born of frustrated cowardice
that seeks to hide in dark disguise
behind the shroud of distorted beliefs
that seeks revenge as heavenly relief
Those that make their own earth a living hell
Which God and what paradise waits for them pray tell?

Rus wa na ** tum hamse, meri jaan
Murjha na jaye kahin dil ka ye gulistaan

Juda hai sabse andaaz ye hamara
Saason se  humney cheda hai
dil ka saaz ye tumhara

Khwahish hai tum mein; ** jaye hum fanaa
Karte hai tumse toh
hum muhabbat  bepannah

Mil bhi lo aake hamse is tarah
Noor mil jaaye
Jahaalat se jis tarah

Khuda Ko paane ka;  yeh hai raasta nirala
Muhabbat bhi  hai bas
kudrat ka hi toh karishma

Rus wa na ** tum hamse, meri jaan
Murjha na jaye kahi dil ka ye gulistan

Who can compete with your beauty Noor-e- Nayaab
Even stars are unworthy of praise, Noor-e -Nayaab

The khanjjar of your love has penetrated deep
Crimson red my wounded heart cries, Noor-e- Nayaab

Let me quench these fires of junoon
in the liquid pools of  your eyes, Noor-e-Nayaab

Give me the chance to worship you, parizaad
I will be a devotee ardent and wise, Noor-e-Nayaab

You are the ghazal, that shayars dream about
You are lajawab, I speak no lies, Noor-e- Nayaab

Do you know why the oceans roar
Day in and day out on the seashore?

It is with great sorrow they cry
As they try to reason why

Why they have a great belly-ache
Why garbage has become their daily intake

Dying everyday are dolphins and whales
Big and small fish on large scales

Plastic and trash are dumped in waters blue
Disposed by tons are oil and chemicals too

Mankind solely responsible
For these crimes so reprehensible

I cannot but deny
The magic in the sky
The day I saw a pink Hippo fly

I rubbed my eyes
not once, not twice
but certainly more than thrice


Defiant he flew of gravity
Despite his obvious obesity
He sailed forth with gaiety

He wore a party hat
He was not on a flying mat
But seemed ready for a chat

It was no spoof
The story was fool proof
Invited he was to a party on the roof

I cannot but deny
The magic in the sky
The day I saw a Hippo fly

There is no rhyme or reason

Xmas is the season

My hearth aglow with lights

My kitchen smells of sweet delights
I wish to share the joy

With kith and kin

And strangers, ahoy
In the midst of the faces

I adore

My thoughts are also

on those not ashore
May this season
Bring, A rose,
a ring,

For that Matter
anything

That warms  
my heart

And gives me wings
To fly

like a dove

spreading the
message

of peace and

of love
 
From Artic to Antartic

From Africa to America

From Russia to Asia

From Europe to Eurasia
Let us all join hands and pray

That God bless this planet Blue  

And bond our hearts with his

Special glue
So that we sing in unison

We are one, we are one!

दिन क्या और रात क्या
सूरज क्या और चाँद क्या
भूक क्या और प्यास क्या
तन्हाई क्या और भीड़ क्या
पेड़ क्या और फल क्या
स्वर्ग क्या और नरक क्या
झूट क्या और सच क्या
दुःख क्या और दर्द क्या
द्वेष क्या और क्लेश क्या
चक्र क्या चक्रव्यूह क्या
जय क्या पराजय क्या
मोह क्या और माया क्या

हर रंग में है तू
हर रूप में है तू
अंदर बसे भी तू
बाहर बसे भी तू
कण कण में बसा है तू
बस तू ही है तू बस तू ही है तू

चित भी है तू, और मन भी है तू
आत्मा भी तू  परमात्मा भी  तू
राह भी है तू, मज़िल भी है तू
आस्ता भी तू, न आस्ता भी तू
मीत भी है तू अमित भी है तू
ज़िन्दगी भी तू मौत भी है तू
काल भी है तू अनंत भी है तू
आनंद भी है तू परमानन्द भी  तू
सृष्टि भी  तू सृष्टिकर्ता भी  तू
कण कण में बसा है तू बस तू ही है तू
बस तू ही है तू बस तू ही है तू

Translation

what night what day
what sun what moon
what hunger what thirst
what loneliness what crowds
what tree what fruit
what heaven what earth
what lie what truth
what anguish what conflict
what chakra (cycle of life), what maze
what victory, what loss
what love, what maaya (illusion)

you are in every color
you are in every form
you are within
and you are without
you are in every atom
only you, only you


you are mind, you are the heart
you are the soul, you are the absolute consciousness
you are the journey, you are the destination
you are belief, you are disbelief
you are  friend you are  love
you are  life, you are death
you are time, you are infinity
you are happiness, you are bliss

you are the creation and
you are the creator
you are in every atom
only you, only you

A garb - the physique
An apparel antique
A marvel mystique
Yet each unique
The body a fabric
For the soul beatific

I refuse to participate
In this race
so corporate

Where nothing but competition rules
Where competitors
get thrown to hungry wolves

They call it survival of the fittest
And elimination
of the weakest


Competition they say breeds innovation
As if a creative soul
needs any confrontation!

They corrupt you with conviction
Of wealth, riches, fame and
instant gratification

They put a noose round your neck
With a cabin
enclosing your desk

You toil night and day
To keep
the wolves at bay

You die a little every day
Dreaming of things
to do your way

Only you can these fetters break
By doing what you love
Even if it is  for a smaller cheque

In the extra time that you have
Gaze at the world  
with wonder and awe

Go paint on a canvas, or weave a web of words
Or simply go watch
wild animals and birds

For when you finally go up for review
He will treat us all
with the same view

He
for sure
will ask

Did you laugh, did you cry
Did you
Your precious life enjoy?

I refuse to participate
In this race
so corporate

On the walls hang, mirrors that mime

The grainy images of shifting time

The past depicts a picture old
Of strokes unsteady and light
Life viewed in plain black or white
One of immense immaturities
and  inane oddities

Three quarters of the body made up of tears
Emptied over some thirty odd years
At times like a trickle or at times like a flood
Salt and water depleted from blood

The heart pulsed erratic
Thoughts turned eccentric

Soon I learned to find solutions
To life’s cryptic equations
An addition here, a subtraction there
Little adjustments everywhere

The future saw  life unfold
painted with strokes steady and bold
Life showcasing many a crease
The portrait though is very much at ease

There are no fears and no salty tears
Knowing that life is on a short lease
With the world, now I am at peace

Salty sweat oozes
Bright red Gulmohurs in bloom
Sweet juicy melons

Cool misty rain
Velvety green blades
Bye bye heat

Dark clouds amass
A shroud of fog over hills
Stillness, the skies weep