ABYSS

She left footprints
I couldn't follow
I walked the snow
She could never trudge
We walked side by side
Holding hands in our heads
There were frozen mountains between us
We slided deep into oblivion
Separately

BULBUL

I saw a rubber tyre
Squashing her
Against the concrete road.
She lay there drowned
In her own blood
like your memory
Inside my heart.

Why should a Mystical bird
Of Attar and Ruzbihan
Stoop so low
to human level?

Maybe she lost her beloved
To some caged-hand.
Or someone made a wooden artpiece
Out of her home.
Maybe she was suicidal!
Tossing her head to every wall
In this concrete jungle.
Maybe she lost her melody
To car horns and loudspeakers.

Even then dear Bulbul
If you ever have to kill yourself
Jump off a poet's thought
Like this.

KHAYAL

Zindagi -
Jism ki pagdandi pe
Saanson ka gubaar

RESIDUE

Hair strands
entangled in the comb;
That is what is left of you
In my life.

LOVEMAKING

Human vulgarity is seen
In their lovemaking sessions.
They noise and sweat.
It's just natural
like rain -
Orgasming upon tinned roofs
Spluttering and then annihilating itself
Noisy, splashy, cacophonous.

This is not how Gods make love!
The divinity of falling is heavenly.
It's natural just like snow.

When Gods make love to Kashmir
It's December
It's silent
Serene and peaceful.

(MIS)UNDERSTANDING

He: Why do you love me?
She: Because you are very understanding.

He: Why are you leaving me?
She: You will understand.

MARASIM

Srinagar ki sadkein
Buhut anjaan hain jaana!
Tum they
Tou ek taluq tha

ZAIQA

Roney se Ishq mein hum
Paak hue ho na ho
Par
Itni khabar tou hogai ki
Meri tumhari aankhon mein
Ek hi samundar hai -
Buhut namkeen

PAZEERAYI

Pankhudi phool ki choomi hai tou
Udni hi hai mehak
Ruswai ki

TAZABZUB

Khizan ki thandi aanch mein thartharata
Tanha, ma'zoor pata hi janta hai
Tund hawa ka yakh-basta jhonka
Us pey
Ehsaan kar gaya hai
Ya zulm!