Chulhe par Chadhi Chai ki Ketli

(Photo credits - http://photography.exposedout.net/2009/12/tea-stall/)

Chulhe par chadhi chai ki ketli

kabhi nukkad par nazar aayi

to kabhi train bus stationon par.

kabhi manzil par intezaar me mili

to kabhi musafiron ka maapa safar.

iski pendi par jami  kaalikh

jaane kitni hi kahaniyon ki khurchan hon;

Maano bhari dopahar ke mehfil ke kisson

Aur kisi ke alsaaye sham-saweron ka indhan hon.

Isme sikti chai ki tapish se

jaane kitne hi rishton ki neev gehrayi,

ya sirf isme aayi ek aayi ek ubaal ke saath

kisi kavi ki kalpana rachna me badal aayi.

aaj jab sham ki halki baarish me

gali ke chhor par ise us chai ki dukaan par dekha

to ek atrangi khwahish yahi jaagi

kaash main is ketli se nikalti bhaap

ki jubaan padh paati.

-M.Priyam

An Ode to my Pen!!

Photo credits - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_pen

The City and I

The city streets blaze through my head

My thoughts playing skittish, where I begin to lose the edge.

Time and again, I’ve stood out of inspiration

looking for a subject out of sheer desperation.

Standing in this alley, my racing thoughts camber

yet, not a speckle of peace does this render

The neons of this place that guided me once;

have today, blinded me out of my prudence.

Rumors are rife about the beens and have beens

but who I am now, not an eye perceives

Is it the city or its people that have changed

or is it me who fears to take the blame.