Resilience

you may defeat me
but only just
you might beat me
but only just

it may be setback
but only just
confidence may crack
but only just

i will be afraid
but only just
courage may fade
but only just

'coz i'll resist
and retaliate
to give up easily
is what I hate

So you beware
it's only a matter of time
before you realize
the victory will be mine

Rat-race

As I joined the rat-race
running at a frantic pace
trampling the hapless few
Win was all I wanted to

until I one day found
trampled to the same ground
trapped under crushing weight
of one running to a similar fate

तपस्या

जैसे धरती पर बाग़ तभी खिलता है
जब उसके सीने पर एक हल चलता है |
जिस तरह सोना बस वही निखरता है
अग्निपथ पर जो चलकर पिघलता है |

जैसे लोहा वही खड्ग बन पाता है
जो हथौडे की चोट पर पिटता है |
हीरे का चेहरा भी तभी चमकता है
जब एक चाकू की नोक पर कटता है |

जिस तरह अनाज वही रोटी बनता है
जो चक्की की भुजाओं में पिसता है |
वैसे ही मानव वही पाता सफलता है
जो कठिनाइयों की राह पर चलता है |

अहंकार

वचन कटु घृणा भरे
शीलता नहीं व्यवहार में
अधीरता के वश में हो
स्वच्छता नहीं विचार में

प्रेम भावना दूर, पड़ा
द्वेष के अन्धकार में
जीवन का निर्माण किया
बस क्रोध के आधार पे

अकेला अपनों से भी दूर
पड़ जाता इस संसार में
मानव जो अपना जीवन
जीता है अहंकार में

संघर्ष

मार-पीट लातें-मुक्का
भरी भीड़ में खाते धक्का
कभी यहाँ सरक कभी वहाँ हिला
मैं स्तब्ध खड़ा हूँ भौचक्का

ईश्वर तेरी क्या माया है
ये आज समझ में आया है
एक छोटे रेल के डब्बे में
सारा संसार समाया है

कुछ भी न मुझको सूझ रहा
मैं यही पहेली बूझ रहा
दरवाज़े पे क्यों लटक लटक
मानव मृत्यु से जूझ रहा

कैसी लीला तेरी भगवान्
निःशब्द देखता हूँ हैरान
हर दिन थोड़ा जीने को भी
थोड़ा थोड़ा मरता इंसान

My dialogue with God

This one day I came to a decision
to take up with God His logic and reason
I told myself enough was enough
it was time that He too had it rough


I took it upon me to take up His case
stand up and show Him that His rightful place
was not at the pedestal where He sat with glee
but amongst the dirty chairs where sat we


I rose up and asked Him why
He'd never ever even try
to show us the right from the wrong
and not let us walk towards the devil all along


"why would You let us be stupid and sad?
why would You let us go sinful and bad?
why would You not, like a father, guide?
why would You let us shamelessly submit to our pride?"


"if this is not what You're supposed to do
then I don't see why we should bow our heads to You.
Why should we in deference hold You high
when with Your own rules You do not comply"


He smiled a beautiful smile
and waited for a little while
then He lifted His eyes towards me
who had stood up and challenged His authority


"My child, you are right when you say
that you feel that I did betray.
But you see it is not entirely my doing
your own sins that you are now ruing"


"I did my duty and showed you the light
I did tell you the wrong from the right
but the path that you took you chose on your own
you chose ignorance when to you everything was known"


"You were lured by the devil to follow his signs
I tried to remind you of his evil designs
but you chose to pay me no heed
mesmerized by the golden charm of greed"


"And now you point fingers at me
when the devil has left you to misery.
but you overlook this in your anger and despair
that in the end you find yourself in my care"


I looked around and instantly did realize
I was at His abode under the care of His eyes
I cried out aloud in my naivete as I stood
He took me in His arms and hugged me as only a father would!

उम्मीद

माना टूटा मेरा दिल है
सूनी दिल कि महफ़िल है
नामुमकिन नहीं ज़िन्दगी लेकिन
भले थोड़ी मुश्किल है


माना नहीं घर-बार है
ठोकरें भी लगातार हैं
नामुमकिन नहीं ठिकाना जब
आशियाना ये संसार है


माना नहीं कोई संग है
न ही जीवन में उमंग है
नामुमकिन नहीं खुशियाँ जब
गुलों में इतने रंग हैं


फिर जब पथरीली राह हो
ग़म में डूबी हर आह हो
मैं चलता रहूँ, बढ़ता रहूँ
क्यों दर्द की मुझे परवाह हो

Life

As life got busier and busier,
the time cruised by,
and now I try to catch some moments,
some memories flashing by.

undeterred and adamant,
the stream flows on,
how I wish could stop it,
halt it, but it goes on.

and soon would go the moments
that I would have loved to cherish
those flowers fragrant, the rivers tranquil,
those wonderful relations that I relish.

As I stand at the end of the road
looking back, I say to myself,
the end I ran to never did exist,
the end was in the journey itself.

bas yun hi...

abhi subah ka aalam tha ki abhi shaam dhal gayi
jane kab nazar ke saamne se zindagi nikal gayi

kaamyaabi chhoone ki jwala jo dil mein jagayi thi
sholo mein uski apnon ki yaadein jal gayi

sajaye the maine bhi sapno ke kai shandar mahal
khuli palak to khwabo ki duniya pighal gayi

manzile-kaamyaabi ki oar bhaag raha tha 'aks'
ki pairon ke neeche se zameen hi fisal gayi

Manzil...

zindagi ki nayi raah leke hulchul aayi hai
mujhe nazar mere saamne manzil aayi hai

tanhaiyon mein dube the dil ke sab armaan
lehron pe kashti khwabon ki machal aayi hai

bhatak raha tha main kin anjaan rahon par
vo kaun jo sahi raah par le chal aayi hai

nakamiyon ke veeraano ka mujhpe saaya tha
raah mein jeet ki ik shama jal aayi hai

kya kahe 'aks' us khuda ki meherbaani ka
khud uske dar se (meri) kismat badal aayi hai

Goodbye

When the clouds blush at the horizon,
When the night is invited by the setting sun,
The body fatigued with the day's workload,
I set off delightfully for my humble abode

Rainfall

In the time of despair,
begins a new day,
with showers of love,
and colourful display.

Parched leaves holding on,
determined and desperate.
revel in the love of life,
care of nature great.

I look on at the marvel,
wonder in my eyes,
with a new vigour and brio,
I move ahead to meet what lies.