Jo Beet Gayi So Baat Gayi

One of the few Hindi poems that make it to my list. The first paragraph is my favorite.

Jo beet gayi so baat gayi

Jeevan mein ek sitara tha
Maana woh behad pyara tha
woh doob gaya to doob gaya
Ambar ke aanan ko dekho
Kitne iske tare toote
Kitne iske pyare choote
Par bolo toote taron par
Kab ambar shok manata hai

Jo beet gayi so baat gayi

Jeewan mein tha who ek kusum
The us pe nitya nichawar tum
Who sookh gaya to sookh gaya
Madhuwan ki chaati ko dekho
Sookhi kitni iski kaliyan
Jo murjhai phir kahan khili
Par bolo sookhe phoolon pe
Kab madhuvan shok manata hai

Jo beet gayi so baat gayi

Jeewan mein madhu ka pyala tha
Tumne tan man de daala tha
Woh toot gaya to toot gaya
Madiralay ka aangan dekho
Kitne pyaale hil jaate hain
Gir mitti mein mil jate hain
Jo girte hain kab uthte hain
Par bolo toote pyalon mein kab madiralay pachtata hai

Jo beet gayi so baat gayi

Mridu mitti ke hain bane huye
Madhu ghat phoota hi kartein hain
Laghu jeewan leke aaye hain
Pyale toota hi karte hain
Phir bhi madiralay ke andar
Madhu ke ghat madhu ke pyale hain
Jo madakta ke mare hain
Who madhu loota hi karte hain
Who kachcha peene wala hai
Jiski mamta ghat pyalon par
Jo sachche madhu se jala hua
Kab rota hai chillata hai

Jo beet gayi so baat gayi

--  Harivansh Rai Bachchan

Jo tu samjhe

Mohabbat ek ehsasson ki pawan si kahaani hai
Kabhi kabira deewana tha, kabhi meera diwani hai

Yahaan sab log kehte hain meri aankhon mein aasoon hain
Jo tu samjhe to moti hai, jo naa samjhe to paani hai.

***

And then life happened...

I closed my eyes

And saw the light

I saw the clear blue skies

I heard the flutter

Of a butterfly’s wings

I couldn't help but sigh

I felt the warmth

Of the sun above

Shining down on me

I opened my arms

Embracing life

My heart filled with glee

The cold breeze

The colourful bloom

Heaven it seemed to be

Alas I woke

All too soon

I guess it wasn't meant to be...

The irony of it all

Never have I been richer
My bank bursting at its seams
Never have I felt poorer
The thought of indulgence being a dream.

People surrounding me all around
Never have there been so many
Yet an island I feel like sometimes
For my thoughts, no one to give a penny.

Never have my hair looked as glossy
Or have I been in better shape
But thoughtless I am now in getting dressed
With a quick pony at my nape.

Ironic as life is
The image in the mirror seems
To others so fulfilled
In real so bleak.

If thou must love me

If thou must love me, let it be for nought 

Except for love's sake only. Do not say, 

"I love her for her smile—her look—her way 

Of speaking gently,—for a trick of thought 

That falls in well with mine, and certes brought 

A sense of pleasant ease on such a day"— 

For these things in themselves, Belovèd, may 

Be changed, or change for thee—and love, so wrought, 

May be unwrought so. Neither love me for 

Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry: 

A creature might forget to weep, who bore 

Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby! 

But love me for love's sake, that evermore 

Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning 

Angel

Do you believe in angels

In those pure of heart

Believe that you’re connected to someone

Right from the start?

Have you ever smelt jasmine

Wished on a shooting star

Felt the rain on your face

Touched someone from afar?

I saw I saw an angel

Its touch was soft as snow

And as it whispered my secrets

I felt my heart aglow

A moment so very precious

As if time itself did stop

It rolled away invisibly

Down my cheek, a teardrop.

The lioness

Stuck in her cage

Longing to break free

She stands and she stares

Wondering if it ever will be

The trainer comes and goes

They take care of her food and sleep

But no one sees in her eyes

The longing to break free

She roars when they want

Struts tall and proud

She plays the part well

Always playing to the crowd

But the shackles of the cage

Stifle her to the core

She struggles to keep afloat

Even that seems like a chore

Words

One word can start a tale
'Coffee?' he asks one day.

Three words can be the balm
Of a heart gone astray.

Two hard words can shatter a soul
'I don't' is hard to believe

Four words can herald dawn
'There is always tomorrow' you see.

Five words still dare to hope
'Tell me it's not true'

Foolish life. Naive heart
Don't see what's in front of you?

Six words, finally wise
'It was never meant to be'

With all the happiness life bestows
May you always pine for me.

posted from Bloggeroid

I don't remember...

Poet - Ash L Bennett
 · Feb 9, 2011


I don't remember, any more, 
The exact shape of your hands
As I held them in mine, 
Caressed them, 
Memorized the length of your fingers,
The depth of your calluses. 

I don't remember, any more,
Exactly your height, how much
Taller than me
You were, where
My head rested on your chest
When you held me tightly close.

I don't remember, any more, 
Your scent,
Your breath,
Or the beat of your heart.

I don't remember, any more, 
The sound of your voice, calling 
My name as though
It were a song 
Within itself, a precious treasure 
You valued with all your being. 

And I don't remember, any more, 
The color of your eyes, the shape
Of your lips, 
Only...
How your eyes crinkled at the corners
And my laugh, as you told me, 

"I love you."

Copyright by Ash L. Bennett, 2011

posted from Bloggeroid

There was then and there is now..

There was a time
Is what they say
When one hi from her
Would make his day

He would fret
And he would pine
Wait for her
Till the end of time

There was then
And there is now
Miles apart
They know not how

The tables turned
Such cards were dealt
Her tears now
His heart don't melt

Her prayers, her thoughts
She dreams of him
He cares not
It don't matter to him

Happily ever after
No such thing is true
She dies each day
Yet, he has no clue.

posted from Bloggeroid

Tum bin

Na janey kyon aaj bhi yeh ehsaas hota hai,
Tu saath nahin, phir bhi paas hota hai.

Jo dil-e-sheher aik baar barbaad ho jaye,
Mudatton baad woh abaad hone ki aas rakhta hai.

Tu chala jata hai jab bhi chorr kar mujhe,
Dil ke koney mein, Tu kahin paas hota hai.

Pagal ko samajhne ke liye zarourat nahin hain hawalon ki,
Bass ek lafz “Mohabbat” hi kaafi hota hai.

Aankhon se behte huye samandar ko paani na samaj,
Yaad karte huye tujhe, Meri ankhon mein lahuu hota hai.

Lot’te nahin hain dobara jo ek baar chale jate hain,
Magar phir bhi duayon ki umeed mein tu hi aas hota hai.

Tere siwaa mere kaano ko koi sadaa pasand nahin ati,
Bas ek tu hi meri dharkan ki awaz hota hai.

Bhattak jata hoon mein jab bhi ghamon ke saye mein,
Dilaasey ke liye mere pass teri yaad ka sahaara hota hai.

Hamare naseeb mein kahan hai tujse milna,
Hamare liye to khawb ka jahan hi haqeeqat hota hai.

Raat kitni hi taweeel kyon na ho jaye zalim,
Aik na aik din zaroor sawera hota hai…

posted from Bloggeroid

Dark

The smile
you
knew has
faded away

It's dark
it's dark in
me

The spark
that once
could light a
day

Slowly
has ceased
to be

My mind
is blank
My heart
is still

A joke
is
sanity

My thoughts
are now
my only
friend

In dark
they let
me be.

posted from Bloggeroid

Raison D'Etre

My Advanced Creative Writing course at British Council is getting more interesting by the day. As are the homework assignments. So I figured what better place to post them and get feedback than my own blog.

In a class where we were discussing poetry, we were asked to close our eyes and imagine that there are no humans in this world and thus, no relationships. Given that situation, what is it that we would live for? What would we find meaning in? Below is my submission for the assignment. Please feel free to critique or comment.

Raison D'etre

Drops of rain caressing my face,

Fresh warm bread that I’d love to taste.

A little pup who keeps me warm,

A cup of tea helps me brave the storm.

Wet sand that slips from beneath my feet,

The rising sun I like to greet.

The sound of birds chirping by,

Hidden beauty in the colours of the sky.

True meaning of life if I ever do seek,

These little pleasures are my reason to be. 

1 year!

As I see you dozing away peacefully in my quilt, your head on my pillow, I stare in wonder. It seems surreal that I gave birth to you. That you grew inside me for 9 months and then I faced my biggest fear in life, childbirth - all to get you into our lives.

And then you turn in your sleep. Your naughty eyes closed shut, your little upturned nose and teeny lips like the beak of a little bird. I stare at you in wonder. Life couldn't have been tougher than the past 12 months. Each day tested my endurance, physical and emotional.

But when I look back, I don't remember the sleepless nights or the helpless crying. The pain of giving birth to you seems but a dim memory. But I do remember 365 days and ways in which you have enriched my life. Each day that you wake up and look around frantically trying to see where I am. And that smile that reaches your lips when you finally see me. The naughtiness in your eyes, the games you love to play and the way you insist on calling an apple - aaa kle :)

Someone once said "You are the most beautiful person I know. Inside and out. And I can see this more clearly with each passing day". Its true, you are. You are....everything that is pure and true and real.

Happy birthday my baby.

posted from Bloggeroid

Shooting star

Don't chase a shooting star,
An illusion it be
The blazing trail
Fools all but me

Neither warmth it doth give
Nor lasting light
But the hope it awakens
In your heart
Just keeps you awake at night

I saw I saw a shooting star
It was so very near
My closed eyes that made a wish
Opened and it disappeared

My heart felt it would return
It would light my path
But the nights drew long and cold
After it doth depart

I only trust the rising Sun
As hot as it may be
Atleast it warms my heart
And be there for all to see

Don't chase a shooting star,
An illusion it be
The blazing trail
Fools all but me

posted from Bloggeroid

Love's Secret - William Blake

Never seek to tell thy love,
Love that never told can be;
For the gentle wind does move
Silently, invisibly.

I told my love, I told my love,
I told her all my heart;
Trembling, cold, in ghastly fears,
Ah! she did depart!

Soon as she was gone from me,
A traveler came by,
Silently, invisibly
He took her with a sigh.

Kabhi kisiko mukkamal jahan nahi milta

Kabhi kisiko mukkamal jahan nahi milta
Kahin zameen nahi to kahin aasman nahi milta

Bujha Saka Hain Bhala Kaun Waqt Ke Shole
Ye Aisi Aag Hain Jisme Dhuan Nahin Milta

Tere intezaar mein aesa nahi ki lutf na ho
Intezar karen hum aesa lamha nahi milta

Kabhi kisiko mukkamal jahan nahi milta

Tere jahan mein aesa nahi ki pyar na ho
Jahan umeed ho uski, wahan nahi milta

Kabhi kisiko mukkamal jahan nahi milta
Kahin zameen nahi to kahin aasman nahi milta

Jise Bhi Dekhiye Vo Apne Aap Mein Gum Hain
Zubah Mili Hain Magar Humzubah Nahin Milta

Teri duniya mein aesa nahi ki hazaar raste na ho
Jo rasta manzil ko le jaye wo nahi milta

Kabhi kisiko mukkamal jahan nahi milta

Khuli ankhon se sapne dekhne ka jurm na ho
Har baar wo jurm ho to uski saza se panah nahi milti

Kabhi kisiko mukkamal jahan nahi milta

Ab tanhai mein na chal pane ka khauf na ho
Jab zindagi ko tanhai ka saath mile to kisi aur ka saath nahi milta

Kabhi kisiko mukkamal jahan nahi milta
Kahin zameen nahi to kahin aasman nahi milta

Without you

You are the jigsaw piece
That makes me complete
You are the melody
To which my heart beats
Your smile
Keeps me warm all night
Your breath
Gives my soul respite
Days stretch out without you
Nights seem to last forever
No sense
No purpose
Till when we’re together
Life without you
Just seems so still
A test of love
Seems god’s will

Unspoken love

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms,
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way than this:
where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.

Drained

Do you know how it feels to be drained
As if you were once a pot bubbling
And someone came and played a prank
Opened the tap
And slowly you felt like someone had sucked your soul out
Drained and completely empty
Devoid of emotion
Of logic or reasoning
Just an empty vessel

Do you know how it feels to float
Like a soap bubble in the air
Flitting here and there
Until a sharp edge prods you
And pop goes the bubble
And all that is left is nothingness

There is no angst
There are no emotions
Just nothingness
It’s not dark, just monotonous
Like the clock that goes tick tock
And seems to be in a rush to get somewhere
But comes back where it started from

Do you know?