बिकाश दा

सफ़ेद, कपडे और बाल

भेद, कोलरिज का हाल

शब्द, जान उनमें ड़ाल

कभी, क्रिटिक की खाल

स्नेह, छात्रों का पाल

दा, अब सिर्फ याद ही संभाल...

    

लकीरें

लकीरें 

बंधी हुयी

और उन्मुक्त

मोटी

और पतली

टेढ़ी 

और सीधी

बनाएं

एक तस्वीर

अनोखी

और पहचानी

      

पानी का जादू

जादू किया है जिसने, वो तो है जी पानी,

सबुज कहो या हरा, या कहो तुम धानी.

गहरा है ये जादू, बात मैंने ये मानी.

नवीन कोमल कोपल, जैसे बोलें मीठी बानी,

बूढ़े पुलकित पत्तों ने भी कैसी खुशी जानी.

नूतन हुयी धरती, बन गयी ये तो रानी!   

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Forms of Matter

The dal is being roasted
For chaklis crisp and fresh
Solid...

The smell it wafts all the way
Up to my room creeping through the door
Gas...

I go down and see
Inviting spirals dropped into the oil...
Liquid...

Happy Women's Day

Yellow and pink
Colours I only associated with women
A long time ago
Are there any such colors left now?
Lavender? Peach?

Kitchen and stove
Words I only associated with women
A long time ago
Are there any such things left now?
Dosa? Chappatis?

Dropping and Picking (to and from school)
Tasks I only associated with women
A long time ago
Are there any such tasks left now?
Cleaning bottoms and noses?

Happy Women's Day!

The Sun-bird and the Fruit-bat

the purple sun-bird
with the sun
glinting off it's
beautiful back
came this morning
carefully fluttered
it's tiny wings
pushed it's
long lovey beak
into the banana flower
drank it's juices
and flew away...

the black fruit-bat
washed and wet
with the monsoon
shining it's beady eyes
came this evening
carefully settled
it's webby wings
opened his
tiny tiny mouth
put it to the banana flower
drank it's juices
and flew away...

Morning at the bus-stop

Helicopters,
we said;
in school.
I tell her,
Dragon Flies.
Black, Red, Orange and yellow.
Wild Zinnias,
brilliant orange;
bordering on crimson.
Mushrooms white,
mushrooming;
under a tree,
and on it.
A Buffalo
black and grey,
led by a farmer;
in white pajamas,
and Gandhi cap,
comes,
goes in,
through the gate,
where the vet awaits.
The school bus,
brilliant yellow,
with green letters;
is already here.
Bye bye dear,
have a fun day,
at school.