flaws

Men are so flawed 

That their eyes are also clawed 

Women don't show flaws

Until they become in-laws

dusky beauty

शीतल रेत की शिकन विहीन मखमली सी परत 

तेरा ये श्यामल चेहरा

काजल की कूँची से अंकित लहलहाती ऑंखें 

शाद्वल जीवन से गहरा

काँटों पे बसाई है जो गुलशन गुलाबों की

होटों में ले ओस के जाम 

फिर क्षितिज पे उठते गिरते अनगिनत ख्वाबों की

सूरज हर सुबह हर शाम ...

velvety vistas of placid sands with twilight hues

in damsel dawn's dusky face

drawing with a brush dipped in mascara a pair of lush pearly eyes

and which are life-nectar filled oases...

she has strung the strewn cactus thorns into a garland of red roses

she has served dew from the cups of her lips

and here on horizon rises - and sets - a million sun-dreams

every morning every eve...

Where There is a Will

Where there is a Will

There is a highway

Where is an excuse

There is a bypass

INK POT

The rifle in my hand is gathering dust

while 'gemsaroundjags'-etched-pellet in enemy's h2a box is gathering rust

I don't get to wield swords

So I work with words

In the creamy cage

Of my calcium phosphate rib

- to soak my off-white page

With my stainless steel nib -

I have replaced the four-cylinder-pump of pink

With a glass pot of Navy blue ink

I pour a bucket of five litres

And make my fountain pen dance in rhyming metres

भारत की सेना

भारत की सेना

सीमा पर है ना

झोंका भी मजाल है आए अंदर

तन में माटी मन में फौलाद

भारत माँ के वो औलाद

गूंजे आसमान

के उड़ रहे विमान

मचले जहाजों के तले समंदर

ऊपर वज्रपात निचे शंखनाद

भारत माँ के वो औलाद

अभ्यन्तर बाकी

पर है ना खाकी

गांव, गली, घर, बाजार, बंदर

खाखी है कवच तो आबाद

भारत माँ के वो औलाद

सिपाही

भारत माँ के सिपाही

समझे मौत को माही

फ़र्ज़ के पथ पे राही

घाव दर्द हम राही

वादी पे वर्दी की दे जुनून गवाही...

गोली कलम से खून की स्याही...

साँस आँधी का हुँकार

नस में बिजली झंकार

रग में उमड़े गंगा

देह माटी सुगंधा

धड़कन जन गण मन का है डंका

रोंगटा लहराता तिरंगा...

I Act. I Don't Know.

My tears are made of glycerine
My sweat is bisleri water
My smiles are plastic flowers
I bleed but tomato sauce
My stress lines are drawn with liner
Even earth isn't fit for my face
So chocolate sauce plays mud

I am a fine actor
Who does coarse acting
I act doctor, scientist, trader, corporate
Sometimes a soldier too
I don olive green, sky blue and milky white
And evoke patriotism
With my vicarious valour

It is a different matter
That I don't know anything
About the heat of blood
And the sound it makes
The painful pain it causes
When it actually gushes out
Of bullet drilled hole on flesh and skin...
I don't know anything about
The bite of minus forty degrees
The rocking effect of Sea state ten
The sleeplessness in three-in-one watches

I do all types of acting
What if I don't know actions!
Let soldiers worry about the borders
I will make merry on the stage
I am Khan
And I am not a terrorist
Or black buck killer
Or an absconder

Juggernaut