My Country

My country is inspiring & infuriating
Inspiring in its differences
Infuriating in its agreements.

(Thiruvananthapuram / 24-11-2013)

Holier Than Thou

I am holier than thou
I don't get caught.

(Thiruvananthapuram / 23-11-2013)

Zindagi To Nahin

Hotee hai sarey aam
Jindagi to nahin
Is tarah subah shaam
Jindagi to nahin

Jiney key wo baksey
Jinhen rakha tha sambhaal
Yoon jung khatey hain kyoon
Jindagi to nahin

होती है सरे आम
जिंदगी तो नहीं
इस तरह सुबह शाम
जिंदगी तो नहीं

जीने के वो बक्से
जिन्हें रखा था संभाल
यूं जंग खाते हैं क्यूँ
जिंदगी तो नहीं

(NID, Ahmedabad / 22-11-2013)

Kuch Khaas

Aaj
(Kal ki tarah)
Kuch khaas hai
Meri, aur tumhaari
(Kal ki tarah)
Dhadakti saans hai
Ham zinda hain.

आज
(कल की तरह)
कुछ खास है
मेरी, और तुम्हारी
(कल की तरह)
धड़कती साँस है
हम ज़िंदा हैं

(NID, Ahmedabad / 21-11-2013)

The Pretender's New Clothes

The Emperor has new clothes
The Pretender has none
We will stoop and steal
And do our will
Be it your daughter
Or your son.

(NID, Ahmedabad / 20-11-2013)

On the Fence

Between the devil
And the deep sea
Can I fence-sit
And be
An angel ?

(NID, Ahmedabad / 20-11-2013)

Living Upto Grace

A lifetime is not enough
To live up to the good
Done to one
In unselfconscious moments of
Unencumbered grace.

(NID, Ahmedabad / 19-11-2013)

Poem Interrupted

A bad poem
Is like you and me
Likable
For our failures
And having tried.

(NID, Ahmedabad / 19-11-2013)

A Crime in Rhyme

What if I was not really me
And you were not the seeming you
What if they were dancing naked
And still forgot to wear a shoe
What if I had tattooed this
On my back, and not on Facebook
What if it doesn't get many likes
But does get you a dirty look
Could be(s) make our lives richer
Being rich is not a crime
If you have read this crap till here
You are a sucker for holy rhyme.

(NID, Ahmedabad / 07-12-2013)