We - The people?

The events of the past few days have been to very least what i'd call disturbing. First, a man died, which is a fair bargain any day for having lived a full life, given that many die everyday and that too after a life time of obscurity, hell some die too young to be said to have lived at all. Secondly, as in life so in death this personality reiterated the truth of our less than ordinary existence with ease and aplomb. Some would debate the righteousness or the sheer injustice in the actions of four very different factions of our society. A youth took time out to ponder and think on the situation and shared an opinion thus arrivied at. no leaflets were printed, no advertisments made, no hoardings created. a simple opinion shared on their own homepage like many others. An entirely apolitical act, devoid of ambition. Quite unlike the sentiments uttered publicly for decades by the demised man. The irony of the situation was overwhelming. However, the efforts of police to resolve the situation were even more so. Using an act not at all applicable and defying 2 others to ...What is the word ?....nab the two "offenders". That is an enthusiam one wouldn't appreciate even if used to nab nefarious criminals. The whole incident boggled my mind beyond belief. So I sat for an hour in front of the TV trying to understand where it was headed, but thanks to Arnab and Times now i've now realized that this is the direction people refer to when using the term 'nowhere'. What was meant be a serious discussion ended with a certain leader issuing a challenge to the country on national television. Well, such bravery should be rewarded with a response and here is mine -

There's but just one way you can earn respect, that being positive and affirmative action for the people. That you think there was a Statewide shutdown in respect for the deceased leader is something we find laughable. Especially when we were in the streets trying to buy stuff we need and saw people on bikes threatning shopowners and vendors to shut down business. the fact that some continued doing what business they can through the backdoor is a testimony to your failure in generating respect. I even know of a marriage being postponed as the banquet hall they had booked refused to honor their contract in the memory of the punishment they were dealt by you a few years back. I am sure you'd say that the families involved did it out of respect. But we expect nothing less from you. It's one thing to claim that you are loved, being loved however is a far more serious affair. an affair that involves serious consideration for the lives involved. In your case however the only consideration is of one life and what you can acheive in the name of it. I wasn't sure of this fact but your actions off late have been quite reassuring.  These acts do not add but take away from the glory (if there was any to be had) of your own leader. They establish your reputation not as a group of people devoted to a cause but as hooligans. they make us question you, your motives and your cause and your existence.

Living a dream

  


So this is what it's like,
To live a dream in this life,
Walking through the haze
of your visions, blurred
by those undiscovered lies,
That keep floating in your eyes.


So this is what love can do,
and you had to see it yourself,
even though you knew
where the shredded pieces
of your life would fall,
for you to pick up and sort,
Trying to make a memory of it all,

So while you say your goodbyes,
I'll forever close my eyes,
let life be what it has to be,
its colors hold no promise for me,

Damp memories now I'll have to find,
strewn across the dark recesses of my mind.



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Icarus....

I'll close my eyes
and forever tell you lies.
While you are busy redefining
my life with prudence.

Never hearing my cries

I'll hold your hand.

So you'll think i understand.

While I nod away the truth,

just to smile at you,

I'll soak myself in pretense..

And i hope that memories do weaken

That spirits break and so do men
That time can fill the gaping holes
That you so carelessly burn into my soul
Every time you bend me beyond resistance
That time can remake a life
From the shards of a broken existence

And in the meanwhile,

I'll close my eyes
and tell you lies,
While i fall like Icarus,
from your unyielding skies...

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The Grave Digger.......

It was yesterday

Wasn’t it?

The blisters are still there.

Just like the pain

The mud marked footsteps

That trailed me to my bed

Reminiscent of another evening

Spent and exhausted

I have lain with the shovel,

And yet here I am!

This very morning

I had hoped to awake

To blissful darkness.

I find myself drawing

The curtains instead.

So I curse the windows

So I blame the light

And I shade my eyes

And I look up at the sky,
To find the same bloody oaf
hanging from the sky
and shining bright...

Oh no! Not again…..!
I've spent hours
muddying my existence
my soul baking in the heat
smouldering in this kiln
like bricks of clay

while the light prickles my eyes.
threatening me with the sunrise,

And my nights always end,
with promises of fulfillment,
But the dawn  leaves me
with nothing to say,

Yesterday the morning was bloody,

Why shall it be any better today?

And yet, everyday,

Graves are what I’ve been digging

All my evenings but spent

burying the sun
All my mornings spent
Despairing at its resurrection.

Why does it find so hard to stay put?

Why do I have to suffer?

This insolent fool,

Ninety three million miles beyond,

And all bright and shining,

While I scrape my corners,

To find some light,

To call my own,

Yet finding none….

बस यही है अगर ज़िन्दगी......

बस यही है अगर ज़िन्दगी,
तो मौत का फिर क्या गम है?
रेत में घिसटते,
धूप में जलते,
अरमां हैं कई,

पर बेदम हैं...

खूब ये जीने की मशक्कत,
माथे पर शिकन,
हाथों पर शिकन,
बवजेह यूँ बहता,
रगों में रहता,
बह ही न जाये,
तो लहू कम है,
बस यही है अगर जिंदगी,
तो मौत का फिर
क्या गम है?

करते फिरें क्या,
साँसों के हिसाब,
सालों के हिसाब,
ख्वाबों के हिसाब,
कलम स्याही कागज़ पर,
जज्बातों के हिसाब,
वक़्त की मैली,
चादर पर बिखरे,
सलवटों में फंसे,
अरमानों के हिसाब,
खर्चे ये है कई,
और अब आँखें नम हैं,
बस यही है अगर ज़िन्दगी,
तो मौत का फिर क्या गम है..