shaam dhundhla gayi hai
jaise kisi ne suraj ko
phoonk maar kar bujha diya ho achanak
raat, aur uski or patange se khinchne waale
us chaand ka aana
baki hai abhi
mere badan ko choo ke
beh rahi hai hawa
aur meri ye khamosh lehrein,
bechain hain, hawa ki hi tarah
kab tu ayegi,
ghaat ki seedhiyan utar
kab main ek sanjeeda mehboob ki tarah
tere payal saje pair pakharunga
——
evening has turned grey
as if somebody
put out the sun, suddenly
night, and that moon
which draws to her like a moth
are yet to arrive
the blowing wind
is sweeping across my body
and these silent waves of mine
are as agitated as the wind is
when will you come
descending the ghaat steps
when will i, like an impassioned lover
wash your anklet adorned feet
jaise kisi ne suraj ko
phoonk maar kar bujha diya ho achanak
raat, aur uski or patange se khinchne waale
us chaand ka aana
baki hai abhi
mere badan ko choo ke
beh rahi hai hawa
aur meri ye khamosh lehrein,
bechain hain, hawa ki hi tarah
kab tu ayegi,
ghaat ki seedhiyan utar
kab main ek sanjeeda mehboob ki tarah
tere payal saje pair pakharunga
——
evening has turned grey
as if somebody
put out the sun, suddenly
night, and that moon
which draws to her like a moth
are yet to arrive
the blowing wind
is sweeping across my body
and these silent waves of mine
are as agitated as the wind is
when will you come
descending the ghaat steps
when will i, like an impassioned lover
wash your anklet adorned feet
ghaat is the stepped bank on a river or a water-well.
with permission from my sunset poetess aparna.
it was her, who while describing an evening at the banks of the river narmada, gave me the thought to write about a water-body waiting for the arrival of his beloved at dusk. i took her permission to take that experience and turn it into a poem for dee. this was sometime last year. i hope the time taken has been justified with this attempt.
Born in New Delhi, India in 1980 and is a retired pessimist (still) living in New Delhi. He has Haryanvi ancestors, a Punjabi girlfriend, friends all over the world, two (or more) yet to be born children, (many) memories of (many) pet dogs and no cats ever. He holds an honours degree in English Literature from the University of Delhi and creates advertisements for paying the bills. His interests are universal, and include: living, eating, sleeping and when not sleeping, daydreaming. Other abiding interests include reading, writing, street photography, newspaper editorials, watching the moon and planning trekking trips that never materialize.
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