Thanksgiving II

life is arevolving
love, hatred, tears and laughter
time, space, infatuation and despair
from beginning to end
betwixt the smiles

in the whirlpool of revolutions
we continue to pay homage
to gods, deities
embossed on our hearts, wallets

awwal

ta aakhir
mooskurahatouN kay baiN
gardishouN kay is bhaNwar maiN
taa umar khiraaj daitay haiN hum
apnay apnay munn maiN basay
khudaouN, bootouN kO

life's tax --revolution
unwittingly, unwillingly, we pay

infrequently
the fleeting flame flickers
and the floor beneath floats free

those fleeting moments --
mother’s first glance at the newborn
dawn on a desolate beach
paroled prisoner’s first look-around
romeo meeting laila
majnooN despairing again
and your first whelming look

chund sa’ataiN
maaN ka pehli baar bachchay ko dekhna
saahil par tulu ya ghuroob-e-aftaab
rehaii paa kar qaidi ka azad fizaaouN maiN takna
farhad aur laila ka milna
majnooN ka phir fasurda hona
aur tumhara youN mooskurah kar dekhna

force us, they do, those moments
to pay homage,
to gods, deities
embossed on our hearts, wallets