इंतज़ार / the wait

वो बैठा-बैठा
रात के तालाब में
सितारे फेंक रहा है

बहुत बरस हुए अब
रात भरने को आई
मगर इंतज़ार
ख़त्म नहीं हुआ उसका

तुम किसी दिन
सुबह जल्दी उठकर
चूम लेना माथा उसका
शायद,
उसकी थकी आँखों को
सुकून आ जाये


sitting there, on the edge
of the pond that is the night
he picks and throws stars, one by one

its been ages
the night is now brimful with stars
but the end of his wait
is still afar

if some day
you got up early
and kissed his forehead sweet
then,
maybe,
his tired eyes
will find some relief

metropolis

they, who have loved this place

are long since gone

leaving behind, empty shells

hungry, moving freely around

many others, rush in daily

pouring in this overfilled void

and so many, eventually

seep underground

she welcomes all

to her still loving bosom

now poisonous with

the filth that surrounds

not anymore this is

the city of hearts

but of a lust for power

that knows no bounds

the poet laments

his eyes run dry

waiting for the time, when

what was lost, will be found