Saturday, September 10, 2011

Its always you

Its always you
from the beginning and since
solemn, comforting, unquestioning,
In punctures of lost rhyme
in the folds of stolen time.

Remember it like yesterday
moments that beckoned softly
the quivering heart steady lay
in the flight of a stolen glance
fire longs to escape
a rebel to disobedience
willing perpetual slave
love of tender broken wills,
unopened books, heavy hearts
very sweet the young pain
That went straight through
it ends where it began

sawaal inquilab se

Har gali mein jo goonj raha hai
Inquilaab nahin to kaho kya hai

Tareekh mein peeche reh jaane ke dar se
Har koi nikal pada hai ghar se

Har masale ko kya yeh suljha dega
Inquilab kya humko naya hausla dega

Yakin nahin ummeed hi sahi
Gandhi nahin to munh bola murid sahi

Jis swaal ka jawab nahin wo kahaan mil jaayega
Badhta kadam ab soch ke kya paayega

sawaal durust hain lekin kya karein
ilzaamon ko har jagah dharein?

Aur yeh baat uski samajh ke baahar hai
jinn uska tha ab chiraag ke baahar hai

Jhuki Nazar

Jhuki nazar ko pyar ka paigham samjhun,,
ya uska inkar sare aam samjhun,

haal e dil haath to aa jaaye mere,
main iska jhukaav, rujahaan samjhun,

batein nigahon mein karni thi so ho chunki,
wo kya meri bolein, main kya unki samjhun,

sabr ke damsaaz aur honge zamane mein
aashiq hun, sukun ko main kya samjhun

dil mein tasveer sajee rakkhi hai,
main kya hasrat-e- deedar samjhun

Sunday, August 7, 2011

RAIDERS OF TROY

Raiders of Troy is an attempt to examine the characters and players in the Trojan War. The story made famous by the Illiad has many background scenes and histories that are exciting, depressing,happy and sad; that were not examined by Homers epic in my view. More of an accompaniment than a substitute to 'The Illiad'.Raiders of Troy may not have the classical form Homer and many views may be tainted with my own. but thousands of years after the event these things should be considered natural. If even one person shows an interest and reads the Illiad because of  Raiders of Troy, the job is done.



1.Odysseus

Petulantly, the lipless one broods by the shore
staring into the beaks of a thousand ships
Myrmidons surround him, respectfully restless
but his gaze fixed on the horizon that birthed them,
the sea that tested them, churned them and
spat them on the cursed shores of Troy
while the battles rage, he waits
all know the foretold, and none rush it
Die here Achilles will,
gloriously, in youth,
on these shores,
in the city made by gods
the Last Hero will die,
they dont know how,
they dont know when,
none want to be reminded,
destiny can wait,
while the lipless one broods
the priestess was his,
the blasphemous reward
earning the wrath of Apollo
then unjustly, publicly
taken away by a lesser man
of higher rank
who deserves to
suffer Hector's marauding rage.

The righteous Hector the lion of a man
how kingly a demeanour
but son loving Priam is Troy's king
Hector wants Helen gone I know,
but the host could not ask

Lovely fickle Helen
wicked Aphrodite incarnate
soothing Paris this moment
pining for Menelaus the other
her beauty corrputs realms
beauty that blinds the mind
brings destruction to the towers of impregnable cities
a thousand ships clamour in her name
she must be thrilled
o why couldn't you be like Penelope
unsure tentative yet steadfast.

Is it our pride, is it the oath we took
to aid Helen's husband as one
to right a wrong, with a greater one?

I wonder how our leader feels,
wise, cunning, capricious, avaricious
the only one who could lead us
his lying got us to the ships
kings some warriors all
rotten his leading is
the titular status taken seriously
makes slight an easy offence
happy he must be, though
chosen to follow Heracles' footsteps
happier to die here outside the gates of Illium
than return to Athens empty, but he's no Hero

I wonder how my son looks now
Telemachus would have grown so
ten years my heart's dull thudding yearning
for the rocky outcrops of Ithaca's shore

Soon it will be time, not mine, not Achilles's,
Not Hector's, not Agamemnon's,
Not Helen's not Menelaus's,
not Paris's,
it will soon be time,
to have a story end,
so that others can begin,
heroes end, so men can begin

I just lay back at the end of this summers finest day
fighting for the day is done
and these thoughts seep from me
like blood from my wounds





2.Paris

Am i to grieve for the city at war
everyday my countrymen and allies die
in my name, on my blame
their blood flows
curse me all
little they know
but my fate is theirs
the gods have willed it
branded without a chance
you Helen hear my tale
and then judge who is wronged

They would have killed me before i was born
but Priam loved Hecuba's womb
i was to come to this world
but when i did, it was in silence
no pomp greeted this prince of Troy
no herald sounded my name
ignominy was laid on my head at birth

The seer said 'kill him, he is the ruin of Troy'
Priam the father, the king scared, gutless he agreed
but charged his shepherd to slay me
Troy was gutless from king to shepherd,
and no one could kill a baby
so a beast's meal i was made
placed at the mouth of a bear's cave
but the bear became my mother
she-bear was my first nurse
fed me her beast's milk
and i took it all in
ran it through my heart and veins
the shepherd when he returned
astounded, repentant ,
made me his own son
reared me to fatten sheep
and lead bulls to jousts

here too i won easily
but just and fair is me
more then Zeus,
more than Athene
i corwned Ares with gold
when he bested my bull but
it took a god to beat Paris's bull

Zues the Olympian had more plans
for me a shepherd of the Trojan hills
he sends Hermes with Athene,
Hera and Aphrodite. Why?
i tried to hide in vain, they found me
I the shepherd was to judge between them
O you paragon of deceit, you coward Zeus
your godhead built on mortal pains
you send three immortals to tempt and rage
the prize they sought, made mine to give.
but just to one among three
many a gift was promised me.
But I choose one and the other two
will destroy me and all dear to me
Vengance is the nature of gods
Hera promised me Asia
Athene wisdom promised to give
Aphrodite promised me you
with each promise came a dire threat
fool was i to think the one i chose
would refuge me from the others wrath

i know now the plans Zeus laid that day
its the plague Troy suffers today
prince am i, wiser than most
but first a lover, mortal in body
I chose you Helen,
and gave the apple to Aphrodite,
the apple that bore 'to the fairest of all'
such a wicked game Eries played, Zeus played
i the mortal fool was the harp
they played to break.

Aphrodite, the most beautiful wretch
she promised me a woman already married
and when the shepherd presented
the King with his son
again a prince of Troy was i
she made me dream of you
sailed me to Sparta to lay with you
guiled me and you into eloping
bringing this terror to Troy

I would have died in the duel
and the matter settled
had Menelaus run his sword through me
Troy would be peaceful,
the raiders returned to their ships
sailing home, their shame washed away
by the blood of a prince
but he was yet goading me with taunts
and Wretched Aphrodite spirited me away
robbed me of an honourable death
forced me to lie with you again
i could feel her hand pound me then
this is a God I've sacrificed to
so I am better a mortal

so, tell me Helen of Troy
am I the careless carefree man
who lives this mountain of blame
or a plaything of the gods
Oneone loathes me now,
the plains and mountains of Troy loathe me
Hector loathes me,

feeble, forced and quivering Priam
never did anyone loathe a father so
if it was i, the baby would be dead
as he was born

but fair Helen, stay your judgement
in your hearts innermost chamber
i cannot bear to hear it
and on this summers finest day
there is more i have to say
Should i in some battle fall
grieve me but then get another husband else
Troy's women will tear you apart
but Hector worships Andromache
so Deiphobus it must be
No, don't say a word
its how it must be

come now lay with me wife
my city is paying the price





3.Agamemnon
When will you fall fabled Troy?
When will I be heralded as the greatest of Achean kings?
Hear it from me that fall you will
Poseidon the Earth Shaker himself cannot prevent it
Such is the promise Zues has made to me

But that dawn is yet far away
Woe is my companion
Strife is my lot
I am no stranger to either
They are not rid of me or I of them
From birth they are my burden
And they force me on when I tire

And what do I say to the face that haunts me, warns me in Mycenae
and here outside Illium's very walls
In my sleep and wake she whispers
Cassandra has already told me
what she will tell Priam
That Troy must fall and then she will be with me
And when she is mine she will fortell
That what I am fated for

What does it take to be king of kings?
To be born in a cursed line
Without a fate besides what I make
There's no bed that can rest me well

No its not the Furies for I have done less
than many that sleep well at nights
My father he did sleep after feeding the children to their father, his brother Thyestes
Atreus a great king a greater monster
That father of mine he slept well at nights
He took the throne from Thyestes
And yet the Furies did not bother him
For retribution was swifter.

Thyestes fulfilling sired Aegisthius with his own daughter,
Who with his father grandfather
did Atreus away and usurped my throne
Forced to flee it was Sparta that gave us refuge and wives
Clytmenestra for me and Helen for Menaleus
Princesses of great beauty and wives of fickle fidelty
One hides behind your walls and the other sleeps alone in my bed perhaps

Yet worth it or not
Why do I not get the respect that others
Lessers in every way
Get without demand without effort

Did I and Menelaus not take back Mycaenae
Did I not expand its realm till it became the largest in Argos
Brave Menelaus powerful Agamemnon, the best of mortals
My brother is king of Sparta
The land of the most ferocious warriors and the most beautiful women

I do not dwell my sight on Helen for if I do my heart will want and a brother will die
Menelaus or me it doesn't matter
If either dies both of us will
So my dream is bigger than my lust and I dream of Troy not Helen

Troy Troy Troy Troy!
In my dreams I see you before me
With you I see the east before me
Kneeling supplicant broken bowed
But what price will you extract?

From the princes of Greece
All or some
Maimed or disfigured
Sons never to see fathers
Or fathers never to know sons

A princess already felled by your lust
She comes to me in the cold nights
Asking why? Father why?
Did your daughter mean so little to you?
Or was I Iphignea just an animal
another white bull to appease Artemis

Her mother did not speak to me
Orestes her brother my son
Fury in his eyes
Fists clenched said nothing and yet
The ultimate sacrifice was made
For you Troy
And I will not go back I have vowed

Give us victory Zues
And make it speedy
The death of an old man
I do not want

One who is mocked jeered
'There he goes Agmemnon
the failure!'
Let me die here instead
But in a fight with my friends and captains around me
While I still have respect

Except Achilles who knows
Nothing of what the word means
Of what is due to a king
Even from a prince
Swift runner and killer he may be

He will join battle
A fighter cannot sit by forever
Stubborn he may be
But Zues make it sooner!

I am just and fair
Brisies is of royal blood
And such captives are the leaders by right
And I cannot capitulate
A matter of right and fair
Now neither will go back
I know this

So how will you make him join us again and when
Tell me O Zues tell me this
And tell me what Orestes will be like
when I meet him
If I return

Tell me Zues what does a king do
When his army is tiring and wives
Back home getting restive

And as I lay down in this finest summers night
I cannot sleep
It is better that I stay awake
Aegisthius, Thyestes, Cassandra and Iphignea
Take turns to twist the torments in my head when I sleep

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Ajeeb haal!

Ajeeb haal hai is mehfil ka
musalsal kahe koi
musalsal daad day koi
Ya khuda saans to le koi!

Ajeeb baat hai duniya ki
zulm sahe koi
aah bhare koi
is fareb ko bund kare koi!

Ajeeb hai rivayatein gharon ki
hauslaa kare koi
maslaa bane koi
Seedhi baat bhi to kare koi!

Ajeeb raste hain ishq ke
ishaare kare koi
Bechaara mare koi
Is dhongg ko khatm kare koi!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Gaaon ki yaad

Chuk chuk karti rail gaadi chali gayee
Puk puk karti chakki bhi chali gayee

Jhar jhar gehun ki danvaai chali gayee
Thak thak chawal ki kutaai chali gayee

Band hua miljul kar gudadi ka silna
Chaar aane ki mithai chali gayee

Bhor ki wo datuan todaai chali gayee
Saanjh ki chara-chunii bhi chali gayee

Hukke ki chiilum chadhai chali gayee
Aangan ki gobar lipai chali gayee

Bartan ki wo raakh majaai chalii gayee
Bhoonje dana wo bharsaiin chali gayee


Jaadon mein wo ras peraai chali gayee
Saath uske rasiyaav ki handia chali gayee

Sikahar ki wo dahi malai chali gayee
Palang ki nivaad kasaii chali gayee

Debari ki tel bharaai chali gayi
Aandhi mein baagh rakhaii chali gayee

Ek alag duniya hi thi jo chali gayee
Ab uski yaad bhi jaise chali gayee

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Pyar sikha doon

Aao main tumhe pyaar karna sikha doon,
Jeena aur jeeteji marna sikha doon

Sheeshe ki manind hai jo dil nazuk tumhara
Sheeshagari ke isme kuch anjaam mila doon

Phool se paaon hain makhmalon ke paymane
Kaanton ki inhe paazeb pehna doon

Ankhon mein jo chamakti hai lau zindagi ki
Rang isme bujhi hasraton ka mila doon

Saagar mein doobne ki hastrat rehne do
Sehraon mein bikhray moti dikha doon

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Pehel

Wo jo tunay mujh par ghaav barsaaye hain,
is shab phir mujhe sataane aaye hain,

main apni zid par amaada raha,
tujhme bhi enaa ke sarmaaye hain,

saare hamdard thak kar apne raste chal diye,
dekhein guroor humain kahaan le jaaye hai,

Jaanta hoon tu bhi pachtaaye hai un baaton ko,
kambakht dil phir mujh se hi pehel karvaaye hai

Tuuti Kursi

Bahut nihaara jaata hai
Jo bahar se aata hai
Sabhi balaayein lete hain
Sab duaaein dete hain
Baaton ka wo achcha hai
Dil ka bhi sachcha hai
Sabki baanchein khilti hain
Jab peti uski khulti hai
Sar pe rakh ke haath chhoti ke
Kangan wo dikhlata hai
Chacha ka fone aur Chhote ko
shoes bhi pakdaata hai
Baba bhi ghadhi se khush hain
Dadi to aise hi khush hain,
lekin chhipi ek udaasi bhi
Ek chehre ki muskaan ke peeche
Khwahish bani hai phaansi bhi
Bahar se aane wala
Sabke man ko bhaata hai
Jo roz yahaan khat ta hai
Uska man prashn uthaata hai
Kahaan thhey tum jab chhoti ki
Admission ki baari thi
Do dinon ki chutti maine
Un linon pe waari thi
Baba ka PF bhi kya karke nikalvaaya tha
Ek tankhwaa jitna nazrana chadaya tha
Jab maa ko na na karte
Bade doctor ko dikhaaya tha
Office se loan le kar MRI karvaya tha
Aur daadi ki tooti kursi,
Phainkne ko wo taiyyar nahin
Maike se laayi hoon kehte
Roz usi pe baithe hai
Jaan halaq mein aati hai
Jab kursi zara zara si toote hai
Boodhi haddiyon ki khair
Ghar mein sab manayein hain
Chhoti ke zevar ka zimma
tum ne to khoob nibhaya
Lekin roz ke aate chawal
Ka bojh bada hi bhaari hai
Saare ghar ke kaam ka zimma
Tension ki jaise aari hai
In deewaaron se niklun main bhi
Pardes ki duniya dekhun main bhi
Kya hoti hai apnon se doori
Dekhun main bhi parkhun bhi
Lekin ye baatein bekaar ki hain
Kismat ke karobaar ki hain
Kal ek paaya laana hai
Kursi ko aur jilaana hai

Monday, April 11, 2011

Rehte Rehte

Lab pe aa gaya tera naam rehte rehte
Kissa phir shuru hua tamaam kehte kehte

Rishta aise rakkha tunay bewafaii mein bhi
Rang kar raha ho koi imaarat ko dhahte dhahte

Mere bhi chehre ka taaluk dil se aisa ho gaya
Muskura deta hoon ashkon ke behte behte

Koi shay ajnabi nahin lagti ab aise,
Ghamon ne apna liya mujhko sehte sehte

Khaali Mann

Man mein tha jo geet mujhse sunaya na gaya,
Dil ke armaan ko bhi dabaaya na gaya

Chhalakte rahe jaam uthte rahe paymane,
Apna hi haath tha lekin rukaaya na gaya

Bade saleeke se bulaa rahe tthey mujhe veerane,
Apna haq mujhpar unse bhi jataaya na gaya

Teri talaash mein wohi lazzat hai jo tere saath mein hai
Ek kiya na gaya dooja nibhaya na gaya

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Neend

Ab kya karunga ro ke
Lo aa gaya munh dho ke

Utar gaya hai bukhar
Hosh aaya sab kho ke

Nakhuda bante tumko dekha
Meri kashti dubo ke

Chayn ki baat kya karun
Neend aayi kaanto pe so ke

Ajeeb tha mera safar 'Quateel'
Faasla reh gaya tay ho ke

Monday, March 28, 2011

Baharon mein rang o boo na rahi

Baharon mein ab rang o boo na rahi
Paaband inayaton ki aarzoo na rahi

Raaste besabri se pukaarte hain unke
Jin manzilon ki ab justajoo na rahi

Dil ki har dhadkan ko tees diya tha jisne
Gham e hasti mein wo khalish surkhroo na rahi

Saare but to devata ban baithe hain
Bas sangtarash hai jiski aabroo na rahi

Hori

Holi ke mauke par kuch alfaaz aaye :


Khelo more sang bhi Shyam hori,
kyun Radha ki satrangi aur
mori chunariya kori?

Jawab mein ek dost ne kaha:
 
Rahda ke dhadakan se bandhi
saavariyaa ki dori
un rangon men dooba khele
kaise auron sa holi?


Phir maine likha:

Chaliya ki hori jaaye mora dil kured,
Rukmini aur Radha main kahe kare hai bhed?

Yesno

No, not in the way you look at me
It's glances that stray away

And not in the words we share
It's in ones we don't say

The touches don't mean much
Feelings linger, so thick they fray

Smoke leaves your lips like desire
Wafts up, in the air and away

Rented once its never the same
Why are hearts made this way

Somethings can't ever be undone
Leaking love on a rainy day

Night is a revisit of day
More moments of false interplay

You sleep finally in a broken bed
And I wonder how we got this way

Hopeless


Hate come easy
Love be slow

Time comes long
runs to go

fall the clown
peace restore

the guilty hands
pure driven snow

afar justice yawns
here blow after blow

where mercy be
God only know

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Ishara

Dosti nahin kum as kum mujhse bair kar
Koi to rasm e duniya tu bakhair kar

meri kismat likhi tere khwaabon ne
Doob gayi phir woh ashkon main tair kar

Sargam ki taal bhi, sharaab bhi, baahon ke jaal bhi,
Rangon ki kisi shay ko to gair kar

Monday, March 7, 2011

Muddat

Vehshat e dil kya bataaun tumko
Toote khwabon se aao sajaoon tumko

Bhool jaoon tanhaayi ki sadiyaan
Vasl ke lamhe pee loon pilaa doon tumko

Dil ke andhere abhi aankhon mein baaki hain
Chiraagon ko bujha loon phir nihaarun tumko

Saanson ki garmi yakeen dila rahi hai tum ho warna
Dil ke farebon mein kayee baar tha paaya tumko

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Inquilab

Aao hum tum ab fanaa ho jaayein
hava inquilab aur hum shama ho jaayein

tahrir e nau ka kalam ban kar
Apne armaanon ki dua ban jaayein

Odh kar sarfaroshi ka jaam e kafan
Rah e junoon mein nihaan ho jaayein

Mod dein apne seenon se sangeenon ko
Dast e qatil ki kazaa ban jayein

Jalaa ke saare khauff apne maazi ke
Zulm ki hum tum chitaa ban jaayein

Utre hain fizaa mein dekho apne khwaab
Qaum faroshon ki sazaa ban jaayein

Aane wale kal ki keemat ada kar dein
hamesha ke liye hum javaan ho jayein

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Kabhi Kabhi mere dil mein khayaal aata hai... ( maazrat ke saath)

Ghani shaam mein mere shaanon par sar rakh kar
neem kash aankhon se mujhe jaane jaan takna

apni lakhayaal madhosh zulf dotaa mein
mere awaara khayaalon ko tum maho rakhna

apni aankhon ki bapanaah siyaahi ka
meri kamzarf hasraton par tawaaf rakhna

abr-aamez surkh makhmali hothon se
tapish mere lab e tishnagi ki banaye rakhna

apni har mehekti hui saans mujhko de kar
mera jeene mein man yunhi lagaye rakhna

saraab sahi, behlaavaa sahi,
tasawwur e dil e nashaad sahi
intikhaab hai saari baatein
tum aur kahin ho
kisi aur ke paas phir bhi
kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayaal aata hai.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Mar Jaaunga

Isse zyada kuch nahin keh paaunga
yaadein jodunga to bikhar jaaunga

duaaein jisne di mujhko gin gin ke
tarazu se uske main aaj utar jaaunga

un ankhon mein kya dekh liya dil ne
dum roz keh raha hai nikal jaaunga

mujhse milna baatein karna theek nahin
bura waqt hoon belaus theher jaaunga

Imaan Rahe

Ibadaton ke bhanwar mein kya imaan rahe
har patthar kare daava kya pehchan rahe

ghurbat ke samandar mein yun tairta raha
amavas mein roshan tanha chiraag rahe

Galey bhi milte hain log ab faasla rakh kar
apne dil ki khushi hai apne paas rahe

inkaar madad se yun kar raha tha wo
jaise apne ghamon ka dumsaaz rahe

masroof zindagi mein aise rehta hai dil
sheher ke shor mein jaise kabristan rahe

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Tanhaiyan mujhse gale mil ke bahot roeen,
chala gaya wo jo tha darmiyan

Kya Hai Kya Nahin

Koi nuktachin, raqueeb bebak nahin,
teri bazm mein ab vo baat nahin,

quateel main hua uske karam se
use qatil kehna, buri baat nahin

ranjeeda hun aise ki ek baar
khushi mili thi, baaz auqaat nahin

itna sochta hai kyun uske baare mein
wo khuda hai, tere bas ki baat nahin

chhod doon tere liye duniya ko
tujhme aisi to koi baat nahin

Ho Raha Hai

Itna taveel intezar hota raha hai
surkh savera bhi javaan ho raha hai

Sochta hoon raah e wafaa chhod doon,
Wo to ab roz mera dil tod raha hai

Ho rahe yahan saude aish ke ishtrat se
Aur nakaam ashiq wahan sir phod raha hai

Deewanon ko apnate nahin, hamdardi to rakhte hain,
Tere dar pe ye dastoor bhi dum tod raha hai

Gham e furqat mein jaan dene ka jee chahe
Ishq apna ye chalan bhi chhod raha hai

Dard aaj phir leher ban ke ubhara hai
Quateel lehje mein kasar chhod raha hai