परित्यक्त ख़ामोशी

मेरे जाने के बाद अगर एक चीख भर भी बच जाए 

तो शायद बहुत कुछ कह गयी मैं. 

मेरे जाने के बाद अगर ये टीस भी दे जाए 

तो शायद बहुत कुछ कर गयी मैं.

मेरे रहते अगर कभी कभार ही सही एक विध्वंस होता सा दिखे
तो शायद नयी परिभाषाएं गढ़ गयी मैं.

मेरे रहते अगर ज़रा सा भी चैन कभी मिलता सा लगे
तो ज़रा सा ही सही ज़ायका ज़िन्दगी में भर गयी मैं.

Darts and quivers

I feel with every sunrise the texture of you

slowly being washed away 

from familiar streets and staircases. 

I scattered my soul 

to the drunken air 

above the sun beaten earth.

And quivering knees 

beaten and infected with hesitation 

slowly leaving footprints 

deepened by the weight of shame 

Love has shriveled its way

quietly and naturally to death.

From the precincts of cheap apartments and hotel rooms 

escape heavy air of heavier heaves. 

Everything seems drowned in that one gasp 

the one with together - with each other. 

Perhaps there was a purpose somewhere 

tucked between shared meals or beds 

Nesting between embraces, arguments and kisses. 

I hear and feel nothing. 

Warm tears wetting my cheeks, neck

entangled in my scattered hair - now lost. 

Only a sense of numbness 

etched beautifully into my skin 

deepened and deepening by the age of time - 

unravaged and uncaptured by memory.