the pause button ii

in a zillion second
chund sa'atiaN, really
all this will be over
na tum rahogay na hum
na shikway, na shikayataiN
the complainant nor the compliant
will survive the complains

haaN! yeh tO da’aimi such
ki woh kaRi jo da'anaouN kO
karti rahi hay paraishaaN her soo
yes, this is that eternal truth
that for ever pricks the wise

laikin
ba'jooz in baatouN kay
but, in spite of this
what stops us
from hitting that pause button
here, today, now?


--a child's innocent smile
the trepidation in touch
the quiver in voice
clouds, candles, music

--the fluttering birds
merrily seeking
seeds and straws
for the morrows

--the aching heart
bounded muscles (really)
bidding their time
not certain
if there is a morrow

chalo
jisay dekhni hO jannat
meray saath saath aa'aye*

come,
if you want to experience heaven
come with me


* jisay dekhni hO jannat / meray saath saath aa'aye*
these lines are from an urdu sha’er. i forget who the poet was. if i hazard a guess, it probably was jagan nath aazad.