I

me -- wrinkled, malang*...
says the unpoet

you -- my shadow come to life...
says the dadi

you -- narcissistic, must*...
says the shehzadi

others echo,
maatoob, masloob, mazroob,
mutasarrif, muhtaraz, mudhosh,
maghroor, mafroor, mutshaer...*

II

(overheard)

chalo, jo hay
jaisa bhee hay
behtar hee hay

laikin karaiN kya
khalish-e-dil ka

the expectations
of the palpable heart --
wishes without parallel
or were they laments?

to which the unpoet gestures
with finger to lips
in the age old refrain

me -- nahiN, nahiN
am not unique
it is them
they are so similar

III

the differences --
age and gender
mores and manners

and the similarities
binding one-ness
in hatred, intolerance

when the cosmisage
fails the unpoet
is that unique?

is being drowned
in an abundance of love
unique?

is the urge
to be consumed
unique?

or is it a syndrome
to be tested, catalogued
the unpoet
unique, sick
different, but not indifferent?

IV

unlove her
says the unpoet
let the silence
drown out all sound.

float and fall like flakes
one after another
in a suffocating embrace
to the ground
unloved and undead

V


gard-e-rah youN
libadah bun jati hay
ameer kya faqeer
mard kya zun
bahay jatay haiN
sub zair-e-asur
ik anjani taqat kay


kya hu’a gar
rah-e-safar maiN
fi sabeel
kuch pyar hee
pila daiN hum?

labouN ki khushki ko
ashkouN ki nami say
koi seraab karday

ya palkouN maiN chanakhtay
tashakkur ki booNdouN say
pyas apni bhee bujha kar
karvaan say phir ja milaiN?

kya kusoor tha
kaisi khalish thee
kay youN salib per
chaRRha daitay haiN log?

as the unpoet looks around
everything is eerily similar
save the disparate reflections
of a fang, a snag or a thorn.