Kenchua (Earthworm)

Ek kenchua
bilkul anjaan
duniyaa ke
reeti riwaazon se,
duniyawaalon ki
rozmarra ki
bematlab ki
bhaagdaud se,
reng raha hai
apni hee dhun mein,
naapta hua
kai gaon
kai kasbe
kai sheher.

Arey ye kya?
Kenchue ne
naap liya hai
poora desh!
Media waalon ka
taantaa laga hua hai.
Doorbeen ka focus
chaubees ghante
uske ghar per laga hai.
Aaj kenchua
badi hasti bann-ne waala hai.

Lekin kenchua
bilkul anjaan
duniya mein mili
apni nai pehchaan se,
darr kar
saham kar
dubka hua baitha hai
apne teen foot gehre ghar mein.
Darta hai
kisi ke
jooton ke neeche
na aa jaaye.
--------------------------------
-Prateek
27/12/2011
https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic

Out of My Deeper Heart

Uss din
dil ke kisi
gehre chhipe kone se
ek chidiya nikli
aur udi
khule aasmaan ki taraf.
Jitna ooncha woh udti
utni hee badi hoti jaati
mere dil se nikli
woh chidiya.

Shuru mein
chhoti maina si chidiya
badi hui
ek cheel mein
Phir bani woh
ek baadal
khwaab ka
Aur phir
sajaa diya aakaash usne
banke sooraj
mere dil se nikli
aag ka.

Aaj wohi sooraj
mere aansuon ko
bhaap bana deta hai.
Aur log kehte hain
saale ko dekho
rona bhi nahin aata hai.
---------------------------
-Prateek
25/12/2011
https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic

Free Falling

Eyes closed
smiling, at peace
with you in my eyes
arms wide open
ready to break my fall
I'm falling.
Free falling.

I open my eyes
Saved by a trampoline.
Now I rise
and fall.
And rise again
and fall, again.

I see the light
as I rise.
I see the darkness
as I fall.
I see the universe
but you.
I'm falling.
Free falling.

Ek Nrityaangna (The Dancer)

Duur kisi registaan mein
jashn se saraabor
raajmahal mein
apne poore shabaab per
jhoom rahi thee
ek nrityaangna.

Usne kiya nritya
aag ka.
Usne kiya nritya
barchhe, kapaal
aur talwaar ka.
Kiya usne nritya
dharti aakaash ka.
Jhoomti hui
madmast hawaa si
kiya usne nritya
phoolon ka
bhanwron ka
sitaar ka.

Sharaab
raja ke gale se
utar na saki
aisa thaa shabaab
uss nrityaangna ka.
Woh naach
jismaani nahin.
Woh nritya thaa
uski rooh ka.

Rooh.
Jo basti hai mastishk mein
ek gyaani ke.
Rooh.
Jo basti hai dil mein
ek haare hue kavi ke.
Rooh.
Jo basti hai gale mein
ek gaayak ke.
Wohi rooh
apne jism per odh kar
jhoom rahi thee
ek nrityaangna.
-------------------------
-Prateek
20/12/2011
https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic

Baadalon Per Aashiyaana

Log kehte hain
ki agar tum
duur gagan mein
kisi baadal per baith jaao
aur neeche dekho
toh nahin dikhaayi dengi tumhein
sarhadein
do deshon ke beech
do dilon ke beech.

Bus
takleef isi baat ki hai
ki baadalon per
aashiyaana banana
zara mushkil hai.
--------------------------

-Prateek

17/12/2011

https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic

Aasmaan Bhi Tumhaara Janmdin Manaaega

Uss raat
jab ghar mein tumhaare
jashn ka sa maahaul hoga.
Jab kat raha hoga cake
aur bat rahi hongi mithaaiyan.
Jab haath mein gubbaare liye
bhaag rahe honge
chhote chhote se woh ood-bilaav.
Jab har badey ke moonh se
nikal rahi hongi
tumhaare liye
dher saari duaaein
Uss raat....

Uss raat
pal bhar ke liye hee sahi
tum ghar ki chatt par aana,
ya khidki se jhaankna,
aur sar ooncha karke
nihaarna
uss khule aasmaan ko.

Chaand ka woh ek
bada sa gubbaara,
Tim tim karte
chamakte hue
khushi se itthlaate woh taare,
Aur chaaron ore phaila hua aakaash
aseemit
bilkul tumhaare iraadon ki tarah
mana raha hoga
kuchh apne hee andaaz mein
tumhaara janmdin.

Usi pal
uss andhere mein
tum aankhein band karna
Tumhaari aankhon mein
ek chhota sa sooraj
chhipa baitha milega.
Jo dega tumhein
kuchh kar guzar jaane ki aag.
Usi aag se
tum aagaaz karna
zindagi ke ek naye padaav ka.

Ab jao,
neeche tumhaare chaahne waale
tumhaara intezaar kar rahe honge.

Happy b'day, Maahi.
https://twitter.com/#!/Maahi_Ve
----------------------------
-Prateek
18/12/2011
https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic

Safed Kaagaz Ka Tukda

Barf sa safed
woh kaagaz ka tukda
kehta hai
"Safed hee main bana thaa.
Safed hee main rahoonga.
Main jalkar
safed raakh mein badal jaana
behtar samjhoonga,
lekin kisi kaali syaahi ke daag ko
apne oopar lagne bhi nahin doonga.
Main hamesha
shuddh rahoonga"

Paas hee rakhi
kaali syaahi ki dawaat
hans rahi hai
apne poore kaale dil se.
"Main naa jaaungi
iss ghamandee ke paas."

Aur iss tarah
barf sa safed
woh kaagaz ka tukda
zindagi bhar ke liye
shuddh hee reh gaya.
Aur syaahi ke liye
bin kahaani ka
sirf ek kora kaagaz.
-------------------------------
-Prateek
14/12/2011
https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic
*based on a short story by Kahlil Gibran

Delusion?

Ek din
achaanak se
aankh kehti hai
"Doston!"
Mujhe dikh rahi hai
ek sundar ghaati.
Oonche oonche pahaad
rang-birange phool
kalkal karta behta paani
chahakti machalti hui chidiya
aur vishal neela ambar.
Kitna khoobsurat nazaara hai!"

Kaan
sab sunta hai.
aur kehta hai
"Kahaan hai chidiya?
Mujhe toh nahin sunai de rahi
koi chahakne ki aawaaz!"

Haath bola
"Kahaan hai paani?
Kahaan hai pahaad?
Meri pakad mein toh
kuchh nahin aa raha!"

Naak kehti hai
"Kahaan hain phool?
Mujhe toh koi khushboo nahin aa rahi!"

Sab sunkar
aankh
leti hai ek thandi aah
aur kho jaati hai
nihaarne mein
uss addbhut nazaare ko.

Aur yahaan
kaan, haath aur naak
aapas mein budbuda rahe hain
"Raat ko zyada
pee lee lagta hai."
-------------------------------
*based on a short story by Kahlil Gibran


- Prateek
13/12/2011
https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic

Sab Saale Andhey

Tera maulvi bhi
utnaa hee insaan hai
jitnaa tera pandit.
Aur jitne tum
aur main.

Dharm ki patti
aankhon per baandhe
sab ke sab
saale andhey.

Farq bus itna hai
kisi kisi ka andhaapan
kuchh zyada gehra hai.
Lekin aakhir mein hain
sab ke sab
saale andhey.
------------------------
-Prateek
8/12/2011
https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic

Railgaadi

Aakhri baar kab

railgaadi ki ticket aane per

jhoom uthey they tum?

Arsa ho gaya na?

Ab toh chehre per ek

ajeeb si muskaan aati hai

haathon mein jab

flight ki ticket aa jaati hai.

Aakhri baar kab

khilaunon ki dukaan per

tumne zidd ki thee

ek toy train lene ki?

Arsa ho gaya na?

Ab toh chehre per ek

ajeeb si muskaan aati hai

haathon mein jab bachchon ke

ek video game thamaa dee jaati hai.

Aakhri baar kab

gaon ke ek mele mein

bhaag kar tumne line lagaai thee

chhook chhook gaadi wale jhoole mein

sirf ek ya do chakkar kaatne ke liye?

Arsa ho gaya na?

Ab toh chehre per ek

ajeeb si muskaan aa jaati hai

haathon mein jab khud ke

BMW ki steering aa jaati hai.

Aakhri baar kab....

Arey baap re.

Baaton mein aapsey 

itne mashgool ho gaye

ki flight miss hee kar dete.

Achha, alvida.

-----------------------------

-Prateek

5/12/2011

https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic

Times Have Changed

Pinjare mein bandd sapne
bejaar ho gaye. 
Khwaabon per lagaam aisi kasi
ki haqeekat ka dum 
ghutne laga.


Aankh khuli
toh din mein bhi andhera thaa.
Sooraj bhi sharma ke
chaand sa hone laga.


Meelon ki raftaar se 
badhta toofaan bhi
tann ko halka sa chhoo gaya.
Laal aankhon wala 
woh kutta bhi aaj
mujhe dekhkar
dumm hilaane laga.
---------------------------
-Prateek
29/11/2011
https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic

Sab Bazaar Hai

Ye kahaani hai
uss kisaan ki
jiske paas tha
ek anaar ka ped
vishal.
Pattjhad ki har shaam
woh apne khet ki chaukhat per
rakh deta thaa
dus anaar.
Aur chhod jaata tha
ek sandesa
"Ek anaar, Meri taraf se,
aapke liye, muft"

Aate jaate log
anaar dekhte
sandesa padhte
aur muskuraate hue
chale jaate.
Aur kisaan har raat
apni chaukhat per aata
dekhne ke liye
kisi ne ek bhi anaar
nahin uthaaya.

Agli shaam
uss chaukhat per
nahin rakhe kisaan ne
woh dus anaar.
Lekin chhod gaya thaa
ek naya sandesa.
"Yahaan milte hain
duniye ke sabse raseele anaar
jinki keemat jaan-ne ko
hain Raja sa'ab bhi beqaraar"

Aur usi din se
chaukhat per lagi hai bheed
haath mein sone ke sikke liye
anaar khareedne waalon ki.
------------------------------
*Based on a short story by Kahlil Gibran

-Prateek
27/11/2011
https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic

Faasle Badhte Gaye

Itne saalon baad
kuchh ajeeb sa lag raha hai.
Raat ko sone se pehle
tumhaara jo khayal aata thaa
uss ki jagah
ab meeting schedule ne
le lee hai.
Tumhein dekh kar
jo dhadkanein
pal bhar ke liye
ruk jaati theen
woh cheez ab kahin
kho see gayi hai.

Woh jaanti thee.
Mere baalon ko
apni ungliyon se sehlaake
bolti hai,
Kuchh faisle
lene honge.
Thoda faasla
badhaana hoga.
Dena hoga
khud ko samay.
Karaana hoga
ek doosre ko
thoda sa
intezaar.

Har faisle ke saath
faasle badhte gaye.
Aur main
wahin khada raha
tere intezaar mein.
Aaj bhi intezaar
jaari hai.
----------------------
-Prateek
26/11/2011
https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic

Chaanta Pada Hai

"Arey!
News dekhi?"
"Kya dekhna yaar.
Wohi roz ki kahaani hogi.
Kashmir mein itne mar gaye.
Ek aur Arab desh ka
takhta palat gaya.
Kisi bilakhti vidhva se
reporter poochh raha hoga
kaisa mehsoos kar rahi hain aap!
Iss se achha hai
chatt per jaakar
taare ginn-ne baith jaaun."

"Arey nahin!
Badi khabar hai.
Ek aam aadmi ne kal
kisi bade neta ko
bhari bheed mein
chaanta maara!
Dude!
Main toh fan ho gaya uska.
Kya sahi kaam kiya usney."

"Fan ho gaye?
Kal jab
court mein le jaate waqt
raste mein hee
goliyon se bhoon diya jaayega woh,
tab kya karoge tum?

Kal jab
beech baazar mein
sabji khareedte waqt
uski behen ka
rape kar diya jaayega,
tab kya karoge tum?

Kal jab
paas ke hee gali mein
school se aate waqt
uske bete ko
agwaah kar liya jaayega,
tab kya karoge tum?

Kal jab
aane waale elections mein
vote karte waqt
tumhein yaad aayega
uss neta ke diye hue vaade
aur saath hee sharaab ki ek botal
jo uske party waalon ne
tumhein dee thee,
tab kya karoge tum?"

Aur gehre sannatte ke beech
uss aam aadmi ka woh fan
kehta hai
"Arey!
News dekhi?
Sachin phir se chook gaya
apne shatak se."
------------------------------
-Prateek
25/11/2011


https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic

If There Were No Yesterday

Agar kal na hota....
Toh har woh sar
jo maare zillatt ke
jhuka hua hai,
aaj, aasmaan ki ore
utha hota.
Jo aankhein
maare sharam ke
jhuki hui si
kuchh nam si hain,
aaj, sooraj ko
taak rahin hoti.

Agar kal na hota....
subah uth-te hee
na kisi ki yaad sataati
na kisi ka khauf
dil mein hota.
Na pichhlee raat ke nashe se
sar mein dard hota,
aur na hee hota dard, dil mein
pichhli shaam ki
uss bekaar ki behes ko lekar.

Agar kal na hota....
na saath hoti teri yaari,
na saath hoti bewafaai
uss jhoothe yaar ki.
Na hota kisi ko khone ka darr,
na nibhaani padti kasmein
uss jhoothe pyaar ki.

Agar kal na hota
har din, ek naya din hota.
Aur har din hota
ek naya
main.
--------------------------
-Prateek
24/11/2011


https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic

The Sun and The Moon

Har roz
jahaan samandar aur dharti
aapas mein meilte hain.
Jab na din khatm hota hai
na raat shuru hoti hai
uss waqt
insaanon ki nazron se bachte hue
milte hain
sooraj aur chaand
rozaana
aur karte hain kuchh guft-goo
jo aaj bhi
aam aadmi ki samajh se
koson duur parey hai.

"You know what Moon?
Chadhte sooraj ko sab pranaam karte hain.
Dhalte sooraj ko sab nihaarte hain.
Rockstar kehte hain ye mujhe.
Hazaaron khoobsoorat suryamukhi aur kaliyaan
mud mud ke mujhe taakti hain.
Achha lagta hai.
Lekin jab bhi main
apne fans se milne ki koshish ki,
jhulsa deta hoon sab ko.
Jal jaati hain
mujhe nihaarne waali woh aankhein.
Dekh rahe ho tum
kaise bheed mein bhi
akela sa hoon main?"

"Kya baat keh di sir aapne."
Chaand bola
"Aur ek taraf main hoon.
Jalta hoon aapki fan following se.
Uss din toh do insaanon ko
ghar per bhi bulaaya thaa.
Jaane kyun
waapis aaye hee nahin!

Har raat koshish karta hoon
andhiyaare ka sooraj ban-ne ki.
Lekin jitna zyada main chamakta hoon
utni hee inn logon ki parchhaai
kaali pad jaati hai.
Dekha aapne,
Koi kadr hee nahin hai."

"Ah, samay ho gaya.
Jaao chaand.
Ban jao raat ka sooraj.
Chhat per baitha koi aashique
tumhaari raah dekhta hoga.
Tumhaare aaine mein
apni priya ka aks
dhoondne ke liye."
--------------------------------
-Prateek
19/11/2011


https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic

It's A Girl!

Special thanks to Vitasta (@Baavri), for narrating this poem in her super sexy voice.
http://soundcloud.com/baavri/its-a-girl-scotchaholic# 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bambai mahaanagri mein
chaupati ke paas
ek badaa sa bungla hai.
"Yahaan maha-naayak rehte hain."
"The superstars live here."
"Ee hamaar Allahabad wale bhaiyya ka ghar hai."
Samajh nahin aaya
kiska ghar hai.

Khair chhodo.
Iss waqt
uss ghar ke saamne
ek mela sa laga hua hai.
Kam umar ki khoobsurat ladkiyaan
idhar udhar daud rahi hain
haath mein mike liye.
Aur peechhe peeche unke
daud rahe hain kuchh langoor
kandhe per bada sa camera liye.

"Breaking News!"
"It's a girl!"
"Ladki hui hai!"
Itni khushi?
Lagta hai ye sab
uss ladki ke rishtedaar hain.
Bada parivaar lagta hai.

Arey haan
Baaton baaton mein
poochhna hee bhool gaya.
Toh iss maheene Haryana mein
kul kitne bhroon-hatya ke case aaye?
Do sau baarah?
Ladkiyaan thee sab?
Achha.
------------------------------
-Prateek
17/11/2011

Inquiry Hogi

Baaju waale flat mein
rehta hai ek chhota sa parivaar
kisi Raajput police waale ka.
Jis ghar mein hamesha
rehti thee chahal pahal
aaj kuchh zyada hee khaamosh hai.

Hua yunh
ki thaane jaate waqt
uss policewaale ki bike se
koi takraa jaata hai.
Bechaare per
laaparwaahi ka ilzaam
lag jaata hai.

Commisioner
akad kar uss-se kehta hai
"Kya isiliye sarkaar tumhein bike deti hai?
Poore police department ki naak katwa di."
Aur chheen liye uss se
uske saare medal.
"Inquiry hogi.
Committee bithai jaaegi.
Tab tak ke liye
tumhein chhutti dee jaati hai."
    -----------------

Gali ke aakhri end per
rehta hai ek badaa sa parivaar
ek dalit neta ka.
Jis ghar mein hamesha
rehti thee netaaon ki chahal pahal
aaj media ke bhediyon se ghira hai.

Hua yunh
ki ward ki sadak banaane ke liye
jo dus laakh neta ko diye
usmein se aath laakh
hazam kar jaata hai
desh ka woh chor.
Saale per
chori ka ilzaam
lag jaata hai.

Neta
akad kar commissioner se kehta hai
"Kya isisliye sarkaar ne tumhein wardi dee hai?
Mujhe baahar nikaalo iss jhanjhat se."
Aur thamadiye uske haath mein
noton ki ek gaddi.
"Inquiry karaao.
Committee bithaao.
Lekin mujhe iss jhamele se bachaao.
Warna agle din se hee
tumhaari chhutti."
-------------------------------------
-Prateek
16/11/2011 

Khud Ko Bhula Baithe

Teri andheri zulfon ki chamak mein
hum khud ka sooraj 
bhula baithe. 
Ab in neeli aankhon ki gehraaiyon mein
zara doob jaane do.


Tere hothon ka rass peekar
hum apna jaam
bhula baithe.
Ab in neeli aankhon ke nashe mein
zara behek jaane do. 
----------------------------
-Prateek
15/11/2011

Bachpanaa (बचपना)

Uss din hua kuchh yun

office se ghar ko jaate hue

koi riksha na mila.

"Sahab.

Aage school chhoota hai.

Koi function thaa aaj.

Road per jaam hai."

"Kambakhath bachche!"

Aur budbudaate hue

pakad lee maine

sadak per raftaar.

Saamne dekhta hoon

sadak per

bachchon ka ek mela sa laga hai.

Koi Ram, koi Aishwarya

toh koi neta bana hai.

"Fancy dress competition."

Arey inke maa baap kahaan hai?

Sambhaal nahin sakte

inn oot baagad-billon ko!?

Aur itne mein hee

ek nanhi si bachchi 

mujhse takraai.

"Arey! Paagal ho kya!"

"Shorry unkle."

Woh masoom si aawaaz

kaafi kuchh keh gayi.

Uski woh badi badi aankhein

kaafi kuchh dikhaa gayin.

Dil maano jaise mome sa ho gaya.

Yakeen nahin hota.

Aaj bhi koi kaise 

itna maasoom ho sakta hai?

Na mann mein koi chhal

na kisi ke liye koi dvesh.

Kab tak aise reh paayenge?

Shayad isiliye 

isko bachpana kehte hain.

Aaj ki duniya mein

phir se masoomiyatt ki baat karenge

toh bachpana hee toh keh laayega.

-------------------------------------

-Prateek

14/11/2011