THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.
Yun toh hazaaron haath badhte hai meri taraf badhayi dene ke liye,
par sirf ek haath milta hai mujhe meri nakamiyabiyon me saath dene ke liye.
Adhere mein bhi roshni wahi laata hai,
aur agar zyada roshni hojaye toh kaan pakadh kar ghar ka raasta bhi wahi dikhata hai.
Mere girne par pura ghar sir par woh uthata hai, aur khudke lag jaane par uss chhot ko shirt ki sleeves ke neeche chupata hai.
Meri harr ek jeet par woh jokeron jaise naachta hai,
yeh dekhkar mera dil har baar bharr aata hai.
Duniya mein sabse zyada pyaar ussi ne diya hai,
aur jo maanga agle din mujhe mere takiye ke neeche mila hai.
Mere harr ek aansu par,
mujhse zyada uska dil ka dukha hai
aur meri ek muskaan ke sahare
woh apna harr din jeeya hai.
Mere kamre ko usne mere harr ek pasandida khilono se saja hai,
aur khud ke kamre mein dhang ka tv bhi nahi rakha hai.
Haan, thodha gussa zyada aata hai usse,
par pyaar shabd ka asli matlab bhi ussi ne sikhaya hai mujhe.
Mere bolne se bhi pehle,
sun leta hai woh,
meri aankhon se hi meri harr ek pareshani padh leta hai woh.
Pure ghar ka bojh akele uthata hai woh,
aur madad ke naam par sirf thodha sa pyaar aur khushi maangta hai woh.
Sabke liye jitna kar paata hai karta hai woh,
par phir bhi na jaane kaise hamesha akela padh jaata hai woh.
Andar hi andar rokar,
Hooton se muskuraana jaanta hai woh,
mujhse zyada mere sapno pe mehnat kar jaata hai woh.
Khud daantein toh thik hai,
par kissi aur ke mujhe kuch kahene par khud ke peeche chupata hai woh mujhe.
Sabko khush rakhne ki koshish mein
khud ki khushi woh khoo aaya hai kahin,
ek makaan ko ghar banata hai wahi.
Bas aise hi akele puri duniya se ladhta hai woh,
aur mere muh sirf ek shabd sunne par duniya ka harr sukoon paa jaata hai woh,
PAPA.