one city, one country, two poems

I
there was this city, country
once it was home
now it alienates

those fields, schools, houses
where nourished
quest and strife for Time and Space
that city, country used to feel like home

then the strive eternal
brought us to far off lands
like one's shadow
followed that strive for Time, Space
the same wishes for a Shangri-La
lit in hearts

heard the whole system there
is now bathed in chaos
intolerance and illiteracy
oozes out of all pores

heard, with intensity
pour down rains of change
on that city, country

heard the air too
for breathing, for chores
is rationed if you have
the quota or gold
connections or reach....

there was this city, country...

I
woh jou ek sheh'r tha, ek moo'lk tha
awwal awwal jo apna sa lagta tha
ab bai'gana hu'a chahta hay

woh maidaaN, madaaris, makanaat
jahaN namoo paa'ee
joostooju e makaaN wo imkaaN nay
woh shehr, moolk apna apna sa lagta tha

phir lay aa'yaa hamaiN
dast e joos'tu'joo is barfzaar maiN
yahaaN bhi misl e- aaya rahi
woh hee joos'tu'joo e makaan wo imkaan
woh hee oomang e shehr e aarzoo
roshan dil e-yaar maiN

suna hay nizam e kaamil ab
bad'l chuka hay wahaN kaa
jehal aur adm e tahammul kay
ghubaar e tagaaful nay phaila diya hay
ek shish jehati heesaar wahaN

suna hay shiddat say ab
barastay haiN
taghayyooraat kay badal
oos shehr per moolk per

suna hay hawa bhi
saaNs kay liyay, jehad kay liyay
kotay aur sifarish say milti hay
chor bazaar say milti hay
gar pohanch hou tou...

woh jou ek shehr tha, moolk tha.......

II
o God mine
where are you

feigning loyalty, these sons of yazid
spring another karbala
on thousands of hussains

your naive worshippers
scared and blinded by intense terror
will perhaps forget how to spell you

o God mine
ÖÖÖÖÖÖÖ..tell me
where are you

your simple followers
are hounded, hunted,
targeted and eviscerated

you promised
only one day of reckoning
but your followers
suffer again and again
days and nights of tribulation

o God mine
ÖÖÖÖÖÖÖ.tell me
where are you

II
ay khuda meray
hay kahaN tu

naam laywaa teray yeh ibn e yazid
laakhouN hussainouN pay
phir dhaataiN haiN karbala

naam laywaa teray ghabraa ker
inthi haie zoolím say naam tíra
bhool naa jaa-aiN kahiN

ay khuda meray
batlaa mujhay
kahaN hay tu

saada dil teray yeh banday
sholaa e nafs
banay jaatay haiN

tu nay tou paymaaN diya tha
fiqít ik qayaamat ka
aur yeh naam laywaa teray
jaanay kitni qayamatouN say
guzartay rahaiN hay, guzartay rahaiNgay

ay khuda meray
batlaa mujhay
kahaN hay tu

this depicted the viloence karachi of 90s

****

PS

roshniouN kay is sheh'r maiN
Ya Rub yeh kaisa andhaire hay
srif saheb e basat hee
roshni feh'm haiN aur ghareeb
bay bus tareeki maiN larzaaN

daulat say zoolmat kay parday
kub hoNgay rukh e she'r e khamosh