if nothing is forever: is nothing for ever

i

what about love with an l or L
and its perennial nemesis hate
and that smile
furtively as it plays on
over innocent faces
yet to be affected by Love, love or Hate 

ii

hum jo youN behtay haiN nafratouN ki mauj maiN
hum jo larzaaN haiN mohabbatouN kay darya maiN
hum jo kisi joostoojoo e azli maiN haiN griftaar
hum jo mohooum ummeedouN maiN haiN az'l say koshaaN  

iii

what of the utterances
of sages and simpletons
cascading in the reservoir of folk lore
repeated lies that mushroom
and with each repetition
ensconce an aura of Truth

iv

khooshi -- ik muskurahat
ghum -- hazaar taa'nay
zindagi -- bhaNwar beech darya
such -- fik'r o ehsaas ka azaab
aur rooh -- ijtamiyyat ki maut,
infradiyat ki fat'eh aur
harf -- pehla aur aakhri -- la-faani harf,
libadah rooh ka 

v

what of deception
raised to an art form
and of real Art
Mona's smile, Tut's frown
Rasputin's gaze,
Bard's plays
Mirza's kalaam
the written Word 

vi

and the prisoner of Time
past, present and future
and the kernel of time, Truth
and the tides of truth, Reflections
and the blend of time, truth and reflections, Life
and the core of life, Beauty
and the conscience of beauty, Soul
our wandering soul

is...
nothing for ever?

a nihilist am
wandering eternally
in search of elusive
smiles