Nomad

Nomad

as the scent of Queen of Night*1
carried softly by the breeze
whirling, dancing every way
the discreet nomad carries
his home within his heart and mind
a home that has no walls, no roof
a home that cannot be bulldozed
a roof that cannot be brought down
by any righteous tyrant

from the shores of Kanya Kumari
to Thar desert, dunes of Rab al Khali
the pink sands of Little Bahamas
pseudo replica homes in Defence
the thatched straw huts in Jaisalmer
wilderness of La Romana
the volcanoe of St. Lucia
the nomad is at home, within
no walls, no roof – sheer bliss
accepting and embracing
(long as the muscles, in trust
throb)

dar na nashaimun*2, na talab oonki
shaheen*3 bhi nahiN, Khuda*4 bhi juda
kaisay mismaar hO, kaun mismaar karay
basayra junooni mun mOji ka

cascading life’s love and tears
rough seas and inclement weather
mended and broken relationships
waves upon waves of sunrises
urge him to newer frontiers
long as the muscles, in trust
throb

______________________


Finger


in (com)motion the finger
weaves, w(r) iglles, writhes, waivers
bristles with indignation

probes pioneering paths
deft touch, amorous quiver
thundering sighs inaudible

deny the poet*5 a pen
fingers in blood he’ll use

an artist tactile i know
paints his heart with fingers

have a language sans grammar
they do more than writhe or quit

but thanks anyways, O K*6


Footnotes
1: Raat ki rani
2 & 3: Iqbal’s couplet-NahiN tera nashaimun qasr e sultani kay goonmbud per/tu Shaheen hay ker basayra pahaRON ki chatanON per
4: Sunnis killing shias…muslims blowing up other believers/non-believers believe in a God that is not my Merciful Allah
5: Faiz Mataa e lOh o qal’m chinh gaya tO kya ghum/kay khoon maiN dabo li hay oongliaN maiN nay
6: this should be very obvious