इंतज़ार / the wait

वो बैठा-बैठा
रात के तालाब में
सितारे फेंक रहा है

बहुत बरस हुए अब
रात भरने को आई
मगर इंतज़ार
ख़त्म नहीं हुआ उसका

तुम किसी दिन
सुबह जल्दी उठकर
चूम लेना माथा उसका
शायद,
उसकी थकी आँखों को
सुकून आ जाये

sitting there, on the edge
of the pond that is the night
he picks and throws stars, one by one

its been ages
the night is now brimful with stars
but the end of his wait
is still afar

if some day
you got up early
and kissed his forehead sweet
then,
maybe,
his tired eyes
will find some relief