mourning for souls / roohouN ka maatam

mourning for souls
souls die not
yesterday's soul turns today's
then why these celebrations?
nenaissance for some
slavery for others
what are these shackles
constraining thought, breathing
and in dead waters
we keep diving --
a never ending search
for glory past

reluctance to posit-act
overwhelms, suffocates
little wonder
we keep turning
to preside over monodies
of our bereft present
always
with reference
to the past

roohouN ka maatam
roohaiN marti nahiN
badalti rehti haiN
kal ki aaj maiN
aaj ki kal maiN
phir kaisa hay yeh hangaama
nishaat e saania aurON ka
ghurbat ghulaami apni
yeh zanjeeraiN kaisi
afkaar o saNs pay haawi
aur jamoodi jheel maiN
kisi harki maazi
kay jazbouN ki ra'u
talaash kartay
gota zun hum

is ke'hat e aímal e sabti maiN
kiya a'jub
kay apnay hee taímir karda
khokhlay pun ka
maazi kay hawaalouN say
karnay kay li'ye maítum
paida hotay rahaiNgay hum