blind mirror: andha aaeena

seeing and showing
lips sealed
wavering fingers jab

in the air

spring fever
inebriating love
condemning fatwas
scab snakes on bare backs
rusty incriminations
rustic insinuations
repeating ...'you, you, you...'

capturing crimes
of centuries past
in the web of words
am fearful
(of this mirror)
blind
and blinding
is this mirror god?


Andha Aaeena

lub b'muh'r aaena
dekh raha hay
dikha raha hay

sarsirati oongliouN ki sarghOshiaN
kabhi bahar ki mehak say pu'ur
kabhi pyar ki mudhoshi say terr
kabhi fatwON kay bojh say jhuki
kabhi peeth per raqsaaN saaNp dikha'aye

maghloob ho ker hum nay

n'janay kiya kuch na keh dia

hum aisay nahiN, hum waisay nahiN
woh srif zair e lub muskurahta raha
goya keh raha ho, 'tum, tum, tum'

yeh aaeena
khuda kaisay bun gaya?

aalooda sadiouN ka muhasiba
kaisay aaya alfaaz kay hisaar maiN?

maiN larazta hoon
apnay aaeenay say
kiya tu khuda hay?