ro lenge hum

(Hindi poem, after my interactions with someone who rekindled and reminded me of forgotten possibilities, yet again!)

ro lenge hum

ek shaam, aap ke naam

yeh toota hua dil jo sambhaltha nahi

kho baitthey hain kabhi bhi kahin bhi

yeh choti si ghoont pyaar ka

yeh halka sa ghav yaar ka

bhar lenge hum

pee lenge hum

ek shaam, aap ke naam

sookhi zehen mein khile kuch phoolon ki khushbuon mein

mere aangan me ruke ek koi huyi chaand ki kirano mein

reh lenge hum 

yunhi nashe mein kuch pahar

jhalak

aapki adaoon ka

mehek

aapki baaton ka

na bhoolenge hum

khairiyat aapki khuda se

khushiyaan aapki jahan se

maange lenge hum 

duaon mein door se

in naveli sapno ko

saja lenge hum

kal kisi aur ke naam

bas aaj aapka

lethe huye naam ek aakhiri baar

ro lenge hum, ro lenge hum

ye dard

(ye dard ("this pain") is about my feelings for someone I wanted to meet, share... but couldn't or didn't)

dard sab ne diya
dard sabhi ne diya
mil mil ke diya sab ne
aap ne diya na mil ke
ye halka sa dard

ye nazar
zariya zehen ka
milein tho sakoon
na milein tho bekaraari

kya hai yeh bekaraari
kyon hai yeh bekaraari
kaash hum bekhabar the inse

dil chahta hai
milan-e-ittefaq
kuch khareebi
yun hi mulakhathein
bewajah batein

aapka sharmana
un muskurahaton ki masoomiyat
nazaron ke darmiyaan jo ruktein hain pal
dil chahta hai

os ka moti
moti sa chamak woh namm chehra
uski baarish mein bheeg lein
un ankhon ki udasi ka raaz jaan lein
bahon mein panah dhoond lein
dil chahta hai

rokta hai hamein
ehsaas yeh kashmakash ka jisme ulji hain aap
sehtein hain dooriyan
ki hum zehmat na dein zara si bhi
bas maangtein hain door se dua
khairiyat ki khuda se aapki

khair ye dard hi sahi
jo aap ne diya na mil ke
kuch naye purane jazbaathon ko jagate huye

kuch tho reh jayega aapka. is dil mein
ye halka sa haseen dard

bas maangtein hain door se dua
khairiyat ki khuda se aapki

(not sure if "milan-e-ittefaq" construct is correct as it has non-Persian words. I coined it and used it as it fits and sounds good. :-). here it means meeting by chance. )

zara rukiye

a breakup ballad where he is asking her to stay for a moment before leaving, a moment in which he would live his life.

maan gaye hummein kami hai jo aap ja rahin hain
jaane se pehle ek guzarish hai hamari
zara rukiye

itna pyar karne deejiye ki pyar mein hum fanaa ho jaayen
itna bechain hone deejiye ki ye dil bechain hona bhool jaaye
itna dekhne deejiye ki kisi chehre ka asar humpe na pade
itna mehsoos karne deejiye ki ye jaan mehsoosgi kho de
itni aanso behne deejiye ki is rooh ki nami sookh jaaye

zara khareeb aayiye kuch haseen pal samet lein
zara choo leejiye ki sparsh ke liye kabhi na hum tadpe
todi si ji lene deejiye ki jeene ki aarzoo na rahe

na thamiye, aisa girne deejiye ki phir utne se darein
inta door jaayiye ki koi tammanna na rahe
bas jaane se pehle
zara rukiye

mehsoosgi is a new word i have coined. the right word is samvedana, but used mehsoosgi because I like my new word. :-)

ae tamizh penne

(tamil poem about a young innocent girl, who gave up her first love for her family)

ae tamizh penne
aennadi
un vizhi oram thuzhi eeram
nenjoddu siru baram
punnagayil oor nizhal

aen varthayil nadukkam
paadhaiyil thayakkam

eththuzhigalin orupatkam pirivin sogam
marupatkam vazhkaiyin oor adhdhyayam.

mudhal pattu pavadai
mudhal pattaam pootchi
mudhal dhavani kanavai
polla
un mudhal kadhal
mudhal muththam
mudhal pirivai
saemmiththukol pokkishamaga
ninaiththu paadu
menmei padu

penn munnetram paechoduthaana endru thoondinaan
manadhil urudhi vendum endru maha kavi padinaan.
thoondudhalil pirandha thunichchalodu padi thandammal
thelirnda manadhil pootha urudhiyodu un thyagam!
vanangugiraen
unnai padugiraen

ennigazhvu un mazhalai punnagaiyai parikkamal
un siragil innoru iragaagi ne meelum paratkka
valzhthugiraen
naan vendugiraen

aen? enakku aen? endra kaelvigalukku vidai thaedi
ulmanadhil valzhkai aaraya
kaalam badhil alliththu
nee valzhkaiyai pudiya parimanathodu anuga
valzhthugiraen
naan vendugiraen

bas ek baar

(hindi poem about the woman of my dreams, glimpses of whom I embrace everyday)

khoobsurat har parchayi unki
ankhon mein zindagi jinki

pesh aaye jab nigahon mein
tham jaye talashi
tanha ho jaye har tanhayi

jharna zindagi ka ankhon se
bhare zehen ke zakhmon ko

rounak roop ki
mehak rooh ki
jagaye hazaron khwaishein

sharmindagi kash hum na jane
uuf! ye nazar hatane ki naubat

ankhon se har boondh samet loon
hansi ki har kiran loot loon
nazron ki har rang gher loon
ghata loon khud se doori

sach na sahi sapno mein kabhi
aayiye
bas ek baar

don't make love to a woman in bed

(rock song about loving a woman)

don't make love to a woman in bed
start making love as you start to breathe
don't make love to a woman in bed
start making love as you start to breathe

she hears it all day, she leads you to bed
to hear a little more, not to hear it all
'cos what happens in bed is just another thing
so, don't make love to a woman in bed
start making love as you start to breathe

look at her eyes, when you talk to her
turn off the TV, when she talks to you
tell her you love her, only if you feel
hide her no nothing, she knows it all
so, don't make love to a woman in bed
start making love as you start to breathe

don't pull her, to stop her from falling
be on the floor, let her fall on you
don't try to be a man, when you are a little bit broken
just cry in her arms, she makeya fell better
don't make love to a woman in bed
start making love as you start to breathe

don't think from your pants, when she says i love you
tuck in and peck her, when she wants to sleep
ask for no nothing, just give it all
when she's ready to love, it will flow like a river
i say, don't make love to a woman in bed
start making love as you start to breathe

don't be afraid, to scream at her
just be yourself, that's all she wants
tell her she's hot, when she is hot
tell her she's hot, when she's really not
do a woogli-boogli-wrugli-shoogli, when she turns a little blue
yeah, don't make love to a woman in bed
start making love as you start to breathe

don't make love to a woman in bed
start making love as you start to breathe

a sachet of sunshine

(this is about a meeting with someone and my soft awakening after. about my tryst with my soul.)

memories of a season cold
sprouted on snow,
that I struggle to shovel.

at my door, for a second
a sachet of sunshine stops

disrupting my slumber,
erupting emotions,
this rendezvous.

at crossroads,
soul seeking soul
not looking but longing
with a helpless urge to misstep
i stand still.
you hold my hand
onto this dreamy dreaded path
onto plentiful profound possibilities,
again!
flowers, fairy tales, fears...

a tantalizing trance
love has been.
yet another bud in my garden?
blooming over the buried roses?

frowning at my frail heart
that longs forever
bowing to my brave heart
that quits never
clarity, I wake up to
as I unravel
this sachet of sunshine

a river and a valley

flowing as a river down a rocky terrain
collecting as a pond in a valley serene
this river i passion to pond
storms out breaking the bond

forces in, out, unknown
forces into a wave, river, storm
this formless water
i care to cater

its mountains the valley did shift
to surmount the storm, with might
but the river can't stop
nor the valley can flow

aksar

('aksar' is one of my favorite songs. below is the link to the video, original lyrics and my english tranlsation.)

video

aksar kyun yuun lage ki tum koyi aur ho
hum tum jahaan the mile woh guzra hua taur ho
aksar phir yuun lage ke tum meri jaan ho
tumse meri jindagi, tum hi meri pehchaan ho
aksar....dil hi dil aksar,
haan tumhe sochkar....dil hi dil aksar

why does it often feel like you are someone else
like the place where you and i met, was a phase that passed
yet often it feels like you are my life
by you i live, you are my identity
often... deep within my heart... often
yes, just thinking of you... my inmost heart goes on... often

aksar dil ko hai gila ki tumse mujhe kya mila
meri jindagi mere pyaar ka tumne diya kya sila
phir kabhi jab kareeb se main khud ko dekh loon agar
dil ke aayine mein bas tum hi tum aayogi nazar
aksar....dil hi dil aksar,
haan tumhe sochkar....dil hi dil aksar

often my heart questions what i got from you
what have you given me for my life and my love that i gave you
but again if i take a close look at myself
i see you and only you in the mirror of my heart
often... deep within my heart... often
yes, just thinking of you... my inmost heart goes on... often

aksar ek sawaal sa mere zehen mein uthe
hum tum agar bichhad gaye honge kaise silsilein
ghabaraake iss khayaal se main tumse phir lipat gaya
tum ho toh main bhi hoon abb tumse main jaaun kahaan
tumse jaaun main kahaan.. haan tumhein sochkar dil hi dil aksar
aksar....dil hi dil aksar,
haan tumhe sochkar....dil hi dil aksar
la la hey hey hey hey.... haan tumhein sochkar dil hi dil aksar

often a question arises from the core of my soul
if we part ways, how will things go on?
frightened by this thought, again I clung on to you
you are and so I am, now where do I go from you?
where do I go from you? yes, just thinking of you, deep within my heart... often
often... deep within my heart... often
yes, just thinking of you... my inmost heart goes on... often
just thinking of you... my inmost heart goes on... often

the sand state

(this is about women in general who take different forms and about a woman who is in sand state)

sand, soil, clay, mold and mud
soft, loose, wet, warm, yellow, brown and red
children create castles
brick buildings boys build
some sculpt

water gives shape
breeze dries to form
a wave, too much to take
wind blows, breaks
wish they were gentle, some patterns
for the sand doesn't know to hold
nor see wind from breeze

plants pierce to prosper
trees hold as much to stay
earth, the world rests on
in solitude, sand strives...

alone

('alone' is about people in my life who are alone)

2000m above sea, on her way, weighting, my paati
ma, juggling pasts and presents
pa, fighting fears and failures
confused by infused ideas, akka wakes
mama, drained and dried
building tumbling towers in the basement, rohan, baffled
raghav smiles. scored by shadowed sweetness, my heart skips
my love, swimming in superimposed episodes
bold, beautiful, broken, my friend
I am sat down, silenced by juxtaposed realities
alone

(paati - grandmother, ma - mom, pa - dad, akka - sister, mama - brother-in-law)

sethu

(sethu is a hindi poem about sethu)

tootthi ho par choor hone se inkaar karthi ho
haarthi ho par pher lene se inkaar karthi ho
thakthi ho par jhukne se inkaar karthi ho
girthi ho par mittne se inkaar karthi ho

ulji ho par kho jane se inkaar karthi ho
ghum ho par apanthi se inkaar karthi ho
mayus ho par afsurdagi se inkaar karthi ho
hatash ho par beimani se inkaar karthi ho

tanha ho par ji ghabrane se inkaar karthi ho
kamzor ho par darne se inkaar karthi ho
krodith ho par nishturatha se inkaar karthi ho
ladthi ho par rootne se inkaar karthi ho

raakh ho par bujne se inkaar karthi ho
boond ho par sookhne se inkaar karthi ho

phool sa chehra tera
nazuk ye kaliyan teri
masoom ye aadayein teri
nadaan ye hansi teri
...se jalat fahmi hoti hai

nirmal ye mann tera
nirbay ye umangein teri
imaan ye raah teri
atoot ye josh teri
sakth ye zehen teri
...se prerna milthi hai

paheli kahoon tumhe amanush ya khuda kahoon
lafz mujhe na koi soojhe ... hairan hoon
anokhi ho akathya ho... tum ho sethu!

beauty remains in the heart of the admirer

a camera, captures a beautiful image
a camcorder, a beautiful moment
your soul, a beautiful experience

a beautiful image, delights your eyes
a beautiful moment, pleases your senses
a beautiful experience, soothes your soul

they say, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder
i say, beauty remains in the heart of the admirer

netru indru naalai

netru unnai arindhdhu virumbinaen

indru unnai purindhu naesikkiraen
indru unnai pirindhu thavikkiraen

indru ennai marandhu rasikkiraen
unnnai mannil medhandhdhu yaasikkiraen

indru ullam kulirndhdhu pookiraen
unnaal manam thelirndhdhu tudikkiraen

kadhal aarayindhdhu anubhavikkiraen
unnai ennil unarndhdhu aaradhikkiraen

indru unnai pirindhu thavikkiraen
indru unnai pirindhu tudikkiraen

netru unnai arindhdhu virumbinaen
indru unnai purindhu kadhalikkiraen
indru unnai pirindhu thavikkiraen
naalai unnil kalandhdhu valzhuvaen

black tea on a friday morning

i am looking out the window drinking warm black tea on a friday morning. there is so much life happening. i see the store owner himself pushing dollies of stuff into the store. he is so focused. whenever I see him, he is always thinking about the store, i guess. the thomas muffins company’s truck just arrived to deliver muffins to the store. there is so much light. i just watered the plants. there are so many people in my frame – some are going into the store, some are coming out, some are walking this way, some that way, some are crossing the street and some are driving. there is a lady walking with a baby in a stroller. i want to hold and kiss that baby. the thomas muffins company’s truck driver is checking or writing something on a piece of paper. gosh, people are already working. and i am still here. let me go!

when you know

when does an old red building glow
when you know she lives in it

when does a street slushed with ice look like jasmine on black carpet
when you know she walked on it

when does December wind feel like gentle breeze
when her breath lingers in it

when does floor 11 feel like cloud 9
when you know she is on it

when is a phone ring symphonic
when she calls

when do you frame a strand of hair
when she let it down

when do you steal an earring
when you know it hung on her

when do you treasure a scarf
when her fragrance remains in it

when is something you say sweet
when it’s her name

when is your writing poetic
when it’s about her

when does your heart smile
when your mind is painting her

when does a picture come to life
when it’s of her

when does a diamond ring cost nothing
when you want to get her one

when do you close your eyes
when you know she is happy

when is night peaceful
when she is sleeping in it

when is pain beautiful
when you are in love

when is love beautiful
when you are in love with her

when is pain painful
when you can't express your love

when do you hate yourself
when you know you hurt her

when do you know she is the one
when you love her when she is gone!