The Visitor

He hides his eyes 

From eyes that pry 

So afraid of losing the life 

he is so afraid of, 

but he denies 

“It’s not bad, it’s not all bad” 

We do not rock the boat we have 

We steer on at constant speed 

If we hit a rock, 

I’ll cover up the bleed 

Stifled by the authority 

Of his nod on an old decree 

He keeps a timid eye out 

for the plenty fish in the sea 

Sits all day with his nets stoic, 

his heart bone-dry 

to catch the next high it begets 

In a series of constant goodbyes 

As I watch him, I realise 

We’re in the same boat 

I’m just in a cleaner disguise 

There’s not a kind word about him anywhere 

But in my arms…he’s sublime 

For I don’t know if I save his life 

Or he ends up saving mine

Nicotine

He lingered on my lips
For about an hour or more
Yes his kisses leave me tingly

Or perhaps it was the nicotine
his cigarette left smeared
to which I am allergic

Sting me again
And again
And again. 

Daayaan-baayaan-daayaan

Suna tha, samajhdaar ko ishaara hi kaafi hai
Par samajhdaaron ko samjhaate samjhaate,
humne apni hi soojh-boojh kho daali hai.

Aaram se baat karein toh hum napunsak
Ladke baat karein toh hum hinsak
Galiyon mein aawaazein uthayein toh hum berozgaar
Pooch toh lijiye Sir ki desh ki yuvaa berozgaar kyun hain!

Sawaal uthaana school ke shikshakon ne sikhaya toh sahi
Par yeh nahi ki sawaal kaunse poonchein,
Jawaab kisse maangein
Hum toh aap hi ki tarah joojh rahe hain iss duniya se har roz
Aapke hazaaron sawaalon ke vistrit jawaab hamare paas nahi
Kyunki hum aapke shikshak ya lok sevak nahi

Kabhi jaati, toh kabhi dharm se darte hain
Kabhi apni insaniyat mein bhi jhaank-ke dekhiye
Abhi bhi ek bus ke jalne ka maatam manaa rahe hain
Ab khoon se sani laash ko dekh aaye sukoon se bhi darriye

Kisi ne haq diya ya nahi, woh sab adhikaar aapne chheen liye
Asli naagrik kaun hai aur kaun nahi, woh nirnaye aap hi ne le liye?
Toh humne bhi aapko bewakoof samajh ke dinner table pe thoda gyaan diya
Chaliye, humne bhi aapko buddhoo samajh ke maaf kiya.