Smoking the past

Ah! it hurts so much
Forgotten friends when pop up
From God knows where
Hello, C, hou'z you maan?
And, you look like a fool
You not only forgot the names
But also the faces
You remember swearing that
It was the best time you had
On drinking and other rounds
But you don't remember the names
You feel sad on not taking Carnegie seriously
Or not finishing the word power thing
It was all about memory
It still is
Thank you Lord, I am not a crow
But I still love You
Someone said that only the bad remains
So it was all good back then
Why lament?
Just hug him tight, ask for a cigarette
And get curious about his habits.
So, what are you doing these days?

Chequered Horse

Let me tell you all a story:
A boy came running the next day
From over 1800 AD
Summoned by the Chosen One
Where the Wisest Fool once roamed in his chequered horse
The horse was the talk of the town and slowly the whole country knew about it
Only a few admitted it was dark
Only the underdogs knew that it was white
No one never knew its colour
Such a horse never seen, never dreamt
I mean, have any of you dreamt of a chequered horse?
Nor have I.
But it was there and the Wisest Fool had this horse.
Don't forget my friend from the second line
So he came all the way for he was called
Maybe to be coronated as the 'Small Chosen One'
When we reached the citadel in our small chariot
We were surprised to see other large chariots
Drawn by horses we could not possibly count
Strong chariots with gold and silver work
Their owners in silk that could surprise the Moon
Their confidence would break yours into pieces
For they too were summoned by the same One
Anything might happen
As there was no caste in between
For in the eyes of the One
Everyone of them is equal
Isn't it?
We waited for our turn
Smoked a few hookas
And shooed the barking dogs
Who were feeling uneasy
At our presence
And barking
I thought they were trying to say something
Well no one would believe but I always believed
And it got confirmed when I saw that animal movie
Where a fat Panda and a Giraffe talked uncontrollably
That animal, not only talked, but some Penguins in their element
Can fly a plane which B or A won't even touch for repair
One by one they entered the citadel
My friend too went in
I waited, and to kill my time, tried to decipher the barking
The dogs were clear this time
"Bow bow bow bow bow"
I walked to them and made a bow
Wondering whether they were referring to the Gandiv
"Why have you come?" asked the leader of the pack
Was I shocked? You might be wondering
No, I already believed they could pull it
"I come with my friend from over 1800 AD"
He has been called by the Chosen One" with pride in my voice
"Oh! you have come as an ally?" enquired with squinted eyes
"I am my friend's ally and no one" again I replied with pride
"A million hair must have faded and fallen from my body
And from this experience I tell you stranger
The Chosen One chooses none
For there aren't any, who are ready yet
There still remains a heart impure
For all the purity can't make him buy
What your friend has to offer
For the One is not there to buy
But just to try and know
Who can ride the chequered horse" ended he
"The chequered horse?"
"Ah! another fool" were his last words
The barking suddenly started
This time I was not able to understand
A sentry came out and asked me to stay away from the lane
For I irritated the faithful ones
My friend came out with a stony face
"What happened?"
"Do you know about a chequered horse?" lamented he
The barking had stopped
The leader was smiling.

Summer's toll

The coronation is over

A thorn here a thorn there

Loads of corn lying around

While a lot go hungry

And those well-fed make a lot of noise

In the streets

Honking and swearing at each other

It's hot and it just got hotter.

World Without End

The numbers are rolling

So are the days

Once upon a time in India

A crow sat in a tree and a pigeon on a temple nearby

The pigeon made a painting on the parapet 

With what you can call shit

The crow cleaned the garbage area

With what you call its beak

It ate the leftovers and never questioned

Even when the UNESCO made the parapet painting

A world heritage site

Millions came to see the shit

Were amazed at the feat

At what a pigeon can do in here

They drank water from plastic bottles

And threw them wherever they could

Green bottles with all gyaan

But nobody took the gyaan

The poor children needed the bottle

It was indeed cool to carry it to the defecation mine-fields

They compared the size and colours and cracked jokes

About the people being amazed at the pigeon shit

They laughed and changed their spots while relieving

Hoping to create another heritage site

This is the fact that I live with

This is the truth that I live with

No matter what you try to do

No matter what you have already tried

It's a world without end

It's a world without end.

Envied by none

The old poet is dead not his poetry
The new-born is dead not its parents

Cries from the land of opium
Where 10 million lie buried in the golden land
To maim and kill those who want to tread
In the path of truth and liberty

It's back to where it started
The B-52 is hot dogging the cleavages again

Where Eskander roamed with his army
Now ruled by bearded men
Envied by none

You don't give up that's why I love you

(written on 13th May 2006, lodhi colony)

You have been playing!
O' Lord?
Why do you play?
Am I not too insignificant for you?
To play with.

Your constant purification
Of my stained soul
In this dry hot summer.

I must have been a fool
Not to understand
Your passionate lust for me
But

The (my unquestioned) faith
On you shakes at these times
Yet making me feel unique
Making me feel complete
Without you!

My questions don't shake your faith
Do they?
I know, they don't.

Seasoned players like you.
Playing both sides
Mother are you?
Oh no!
Father you are
Is not it?

You never give up
And want it that way
Always.

So why expect from me?

It’s winter and I am warm in love

The flowers don’t want to leave the stand

Beside my bed, with blocked nostrils

I still have the scent in my lungs

Are they the wild orchids?

Or just another bunch from the green houses

That won’t be wild, will they?

It’s a wild winter here but my heart remains warm

There is no need to explain that I am still in love

The leftover of the mushy dark chocolate cake

With quarter of my name remaining

Spreading the flavour in the fridge

Waits for me to get my taste buds back

It’s winter here and my stomach has got butterflies

There is no need to explain that I am still in love

The card that she gave me is under my pillow

Wants me to read it once again

It’s winter here and the only thing I want to do

Is to read the card once again

A warm stripped muffler in pink and white

Lies near the pillow

Pleading me to touch it

It’s winter here and my hands feel the warmth

It took days for her to make it

It will take ages for me to comprehend

Its warmth

It’s winter here and I am full of warmth.

Fire in the Soul! Fire in the Soul!

All my tears for forgiveness won't wash my sins

For I have committed too many.

All my joys can't make  me smile

For I have pained myself too much.

The smoke from my pyre will reek of burnt ego

And plagiarism of thoughts.

Aping to unknown limits

Have ruined my identity

The soul screams and cries in dismay

"For this filthy transient life, why did you leave the paradise in hell?"