Does no one know?

When the light finds its way through the shuttered window

What lies ahead does no one know?

When the glass cracks yet the warmth leaves a glow,

But what lies ahead does no one know?

When I cry out for an answer, the window lets the breeze in somehow,

Yet what lies ahead does no one know?

When my spirit content with the beauty of the moment, flows

Does it embrace the why; the when and what does no one know?

When I smile at my own reflection, the joy only grows,

And it matters no more that, what lies ahead does no one know?

When my heart and mind will learn to be in the now,

No longer will I fear the unknown and what lies ahead, my soul will know.

A ghazal discharged

Did you go out to see the stars tonight?
My flashy bullet marks look like scars tonight.

Let us roll the ribbons and smoke them up!
These decorations looks like a farce tonight.

Give me a shot of Billboard Happiness
I wanna be free from these bars tonight.

Hook me up with the wildest one you got
I don't want to revisit the wars tonight.

Sometimes somewhere in here I can be found
But my sword with yours isn't on par tonight.

Jai Hind

Don’t forget to violently attack young lovers, Jai Hind,

For exchanging harmless flirtations, Jai Hind.

Don’t forget to remember the jawans, Jai Hind,

From the comfort of your settee facing the television, Jai Hind.

Don’t forget to help the poor and needy, Jai Hind.

But force them to undergo sterilization, Jai Hind

Don’t forget to domesticate our forests to attract tourists, Jai Hind.  

Fence it down and mine its core for capital accumulation, Jai Hind.

When the Naxals retaliate, kill them in hordes, Jai Hind

How dare they fight against your nation, Jai Hind.

Don’t forget to crush their dreams of liberation, Jai Hind.

Steal their land and drive them to starvation, Jai Hind.

Stand up for the national anthem or be cursed to damnation, Jai Hind.

And when the dust has settled, attend liberty’s cremation. Jai Hind!

ये झूठ हैं (that's a lie)

               ग़ज़ल- ये झूठ है

                   Ghazal- That’s a lie

मैं तुझसे जुदा हूँ ये झूठ है
मैं तुझसे खफ़ा हूँ ये झूठ है ||
I am separated from you, that’s a lie 
I am displeased with you, that’s a lie 

किसने कहा तूने दिल तोड़ा था मेरा 
मैं शायर ग़मज़दा हूँ ये झूठ है ||
You have broken my heart, who said that! 
I am a sorrowful poet, that’s a lie 

सब कहते हैं मैं औरों से मुक्तलिफ़ हूँ 
मैं शख्स अल्हदा हूँ ये झूठ है ||
Everyone says that I am different from others
I am divergent, that’s a lie 

मैंने किये हैं फ़रेब तुझसे महबूब 
मैं फ़रेबी ख़ंजर की अदा हूँ ये झूठ है ||
I have dodged you, my love 
I am a person of dishonesty, that’s a lie 


मैं दोस्त हूँ महबूब हूँ शौहर भी हूँ 
मैं तेरा खुदा हूँ ये झूठ है ||
I am a friend, a lover and a husband too 
And I am also your god, that’s a lie. 

Hush to Hello

'Hello’ brought the bond between-us.

Words and smile built up the bond,

Bit by bitter bond became mightful.

None can break nor a needle prick,

My trust implanted deeply to ye.

Hush to Hello.

‘Hello’ brought the bond between-us.

I was drown profoundly in your love,

Bit by bit it suffocates me.

Where none can save but you alone,

The honeymoon phase is now gone!

Hush to Hello.

‘Hello’ brought the bond between-us.

Depth of your love is less comparable,

Bit by bit silence leads misery.

Recall the lost hours too late,

The exchange of Hello, I regret!

Hush to Hello.

Hope

Nectar flies south in search of food. What is it if it’s not hope?

Jobless goes street to street to find something good. What is it if it’s not hope?  

   

The homeless could hardly manage two time meal

Yet! With every sunrise with bare feet they go for their feet to peal

What is it if it’s not hope?

The Killing of innocent didn’t stop nor did they leave their home

There are still few who beliefs in giving life more than taking any form

What is it if it's not hope?

Hope is a great weapon,

When you fall you stood up;

what is it if it’s not hope?

What is it if it’s not hope?

Shahana

There isn't much I can say, Shahana
Except let's call it a day, Shahana.


It was fine yellow, that morning
I asked you for tea, "If you may, Shahana."


I'm catching your lies, you look shaken
You weren't willing to stay, Shahana.


"I can't be with women" your words were clear
Clear about how they could slay, Shahana.


I sit and fold my palms. I adjust my Aanchal.
I don' know whom to pray, Shahana!

Daylight

I wonder why springs are evanescent today
Why dog days are filled with torment today

Should I cry or stay mum I wonder
Or stay motionless or simply repent today

Seconds, minutes and hefty hours
Yet I forgot to count smiles i spent today

Dawn faded and Dusk quavered while
Shadows conjured and voices bent today

Am I lost ? Or strayed, I wonder while
I look for creeks, crevices or a vent today

Could it be a beginning or an end
Or maybe another grave event today

Noor, the night will chase dawn
To borrow smiles it had lent, today 

Ittar Shop

“Where are you now? Who lies beneath your spell tonight?

Whom else from rapture’s road will you expel tonight.”

-        Tonight by Agha Shahid Ali

Two kohl eyes met in my Ittar shop tonight.

And how it wounded my heart, I shall tell tonight.

Amber, Musk, Rose, Lavender. The fragrance,

their conversation created, you should smell tonight.

My head aches with the clink of ittar bottles, but

their fingertips—brushing, it was a spell tonight.

I remember chandbalis stroking your neck-line.

You now have a shauhar, all madmen yell tonight.

Your inconstancy still flickers in my eyes.

Seeing you pass by Jahan Numa, they swell tonight.

Wine and the morning after, a pinch of lime.

All offerings, shall drown in a well tonight.