Wish you were here

In memory of a loved one
the day you left
whole town wept
last rites don’t apply
as angels just fly
patience, care
Love immense
life after you
made no sense
who will now
calm me down
let me wear
that intellect crown
time has passed
since I have seen
that smile
that laugh
most beautiful heart
ever been
years pass
images degrade
those memories
however
never fade
heaven will have
a great party tonight
as soul of the world
celebrate in style
we on earth are
missing you
on your birthday
kissing you
in milk honey streams
in mad laughter screams
in every moment dreams

Modesty

Writer wants to
write a song
The song disagrees
It won’t come on
a piece of paper
For a mere mortal
Wants to be a
missive from the king
On adorned gold leaf,
Written with blood of heroes
Etched with sword of courage
It is so fond of itself
Little narcissist
With so many meanings
Dancing and preening
Then the lightening strikes
writer’s mind wanders
to a beautiful poem
dancing in the rain
has a humming lullaby
Tune so soft
Words with grace
natural and pure
Doesn’t pretend
Humble beginning
Amazing end
poet likes it
Ditches the song
arrogance
kept it alive
But not for long!!

That memory of you

longevity of
some precious moments
which last till eternity
in your memories,

when all else fails,
Thoughts start leaving you,
you still hold onto,
lasting, tasting that feeling,

how soft were those lips,
how eyes smiled,
how we flew in the air,
Stayed there for a while

warmness of temple,
blushing cheeks,
long full eye lashes,
slowly opening bliss

as you hold onto
prolonging, extending
tongue bending
passion sending, kiss

Ghosts of the staircase

Midnight
Last night
No one around
Staircase tells the tale
How they have become alive
and devour humans in their sleep
What have they done to you steps
I asked with a heavy heart, screaming soul
Our brethren they have killed, our bodies they stole

Waves

Limitless source
Tamed, harnessed
Till a tsunami force
Changes order of submission
Humanity’s admission
its insignificance

Hospitality

We met at the train station, it was so good to see her after such a long time. Her beautiful eyes had hints of longing, slight irritation, stories of years passed between us and some satisfaction to see me in good health. She asked her errand boy to give three beautiful marigold flowers to me one by one, he said to me each time in Urdu ‘yay-lo bhaijan’ which meant ‘take this brother’. We instantly laughed hearing that, knowing at least two other ways to interpret ‘yay-lo’. I was home and life was beautiful. My mother gave me a hug and jail time seemed like a distant past.

Depth

Deep, shallow,
who is to decide
is poetry deep
just ostentatious
mind peeps
showing off ability
to word juggle
when others struggle
Idle walk
people talk
assumed shallow
totally hollow
what if it is about wellbeing
of a loved one
finding solutions
someone’s pains
Life’s stains
crave for some
one or thing
Infatuation real shallow
Love oh so deep
Pure hunger, banal
connoisseur taste, steep
Inconsistency, hypocrisy
That is all to keep
Rest is just shallow
Sure