Unconditional Love

These days
He has fallen in love with his own beard.
Twice a day or more than that
he observes his beard
and adores it unconditionally.

Since the day
he has known that
his beard can illuminate
a poet's imagination
and his beard also can be
a source of illusion
He has deeply fallen in love with his own beard.

Lucknow, India

Thereafter

Thereafter?
She asked.
I noticed her eyebrow
soft and thick,
like the feather of an egret;
I saw--twilight had settled on her eyelid.
--Thereafter...you didn't complete your story.
--She said
--What could I say anymore?

The prince of the story was alone.
He had an entire empire, yet alone.
He had a queen, yet alone.
--Why lonely even though he had a queen?
Here I paused.
I took some time and then answered...
Because the queen had her own business
And queen couldn't touch the bottom of king's mind.

Lucknow, India 

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তারপর
সে চোখ তুলে বললে
আমি দেখলাম তার ভুরু
বকের পাখার পালকের মত
ঘন, নিবিড়
আর তার চোখের পাতায়
সন্ধ্যার মায়াবী আলো

তারপর --
গল্পটা বললে না তো?
সে চোখ তুলে বললে
গল্প আর কি বলবো বলো?
গল্পের রাজপুত্র সব কিছু পেয়েও একা
রাজ্যপাট পেয়ে, রানী পেয়েও বড় একা...
কেন রানী পেয়েও একা কেন?
কেননা রানী রানীর মতো থাকে
রানী বোঝেনা না রাজার মন।
--ও তাই বুঝি?
সে চোখ তুলে বললে
আমি দেখলাম তার চোখের তারায় হাসি
বিদ্যুতের মতো সে হাসি লুকিয়ে পড়লো মেঘের আড়ালে।

When I bleed

I am as pure as a lotus
when I bleed.
I am as pure as the heavenly light
when I bleed.

I haven't told her
I touched Gita
Or watered a plant
during those days
when I am considered unclean.
I would even enter those spaces
where I am not supposed to enter
when I am considered unclean.

She gave me a Quran
and told not to touch
when I bleed;
I was in a dilemma
Do I have the right to hurt
Someone else's belief?

Purity depends on your thoughts
not on rituals;
Even you follow all the rituals
and your thoughts are unclean
You will not become a butterfly
Or a beautiful lotus ready to be offered
on the feet of divine.

Lucknow, India

Mystery Solved

That day,
sitting closer to you
I felt like a calm river
and like a cooling breeze
coming from the Gomti.

That day, first time
I was able to see you clearly.
Even though I have seen you many times
My heart's desire to see you more
never got properly quenched.

That day, for the first time
I was able to solve the puzzle of color--
The color of your beard
became distinct in the daylight.

Lucknow, India

On a rainy day

It was not an ordinary day.
Rain was constantly pouring from the sky
The city was feeling wet and soft
We took shelter under your blue umbrella.

When the city was drenching
---we were walking
We were half dry and half wet;
The umbrella couldn't save us completely.
Yet we were not bothered...

While it rained 
We were busy in resting our hands on our chests
and bring out the similar elements of our souls.
The souls having no shape felt light
We took out our souls on our palms
And gave away to each other.

Lucknow, India

Gomti

Gomti, be a woman again
Not a feeble one;
A strong yet not scared to be vulnerable
Not scared to speak up
and give voice to those
who cannot speak for themselves.

Gomti, I will not be here always
to praise you, to love you
to touch you gently
and to smell you
(even you do smell bad sometimes)

Gomti, when I am not here
Please do remember
how I loved you
with all my tenderness. 

Lucknow, India

Happy

Last night
It was heavy and I wished
I could take serotonin
and lift my mood! 

Today, I feel like a floating cloud
The rain came to a halt and left the sky behind. 
Blue sky and sunshine
always make me happy!

(Note: Take away message: serotonin 😁😁)