Saturday, October 12, 2013

Chulhe par Chadhi Chai ki Ketli


(Photo credits - http://photography.exposedout.net/2009/12/tea-stall/)


Chulhe par chadhi chai ki ketli
kabhi nukkad par nazar aayi
to kabhi train bus stationon par.
kabhi manzil par intezaar me mili
to kabhi musafiron ka maapa safar.

iski pendi par jami  kaalikh
jaane kitni hi kahaniyon ki khurchan hon;
Maano bhari dopahar ke mehfil ke kisson
Aur kisi ke alsaaye sham-saweron ka indhan hon.

Isme sikti chai ki tapish se
jaane kitne hi rishton ki neev gehrayi,
ya sirf isme aayi ek aayi ek ubaal ke saath
kisi kavi ki kalpana rachna me badal aayi.

aaj jab sham ki halki baarish me
gali ke chhor par ise us chai ki dukaan par dekha
to ek atrangi khwahish yahi jaagi
kaash main is ketli se nikalti bhaap
ki jubaan padh paati.


-M.Priyam

Friday, October 4, 2013

The City and I


The city streets blaze through my head

My thoughts playing skittish, where I begin to lose the edge.

Time and again, I’ve stood out of inspiration

looking for a subject out of sheer desperation.

Standing in this alley, my racing thoughts camber

yet, not a speckle of peace does this render

The neons of this place that guided me once;

have today, blinded me out of my prudence.

Rumors are rife about the beens and have beens

but who I am now, not an eye perceives

Is it the city or its people that have changed

or is it me who fears to take the blame.