yeh ras'm e wafa nahiN hay

sur jhookanay ki yeh aadat
ras'm e wafa nahiN hay
kuch ghairOn ki kuch apnOn ki
ghulami ka yeh virsa hay

our bowed heads are no signs
of obeisance or awe
centuries of slavery
by outsiders and by
our own has arched our necks

karachi march, 2012

a b c ... z

stand aloof

imperial

impervious

when connected

they communicate

dreams

desires

doubts

***

today

in my city

province

country

a b c ... z

stifle

and kill

dreams

desires

doubts