Hairaana

The past week has had me feeling a greater degree of morbidity and pertabation than I am comfortable with. The whole nation has been in a self-conscious state of appraisal and introspection. Swaying between decision-indecision between cynicism and optimism, public sentiment has been a palpable thing. Past horrors have loomed afresh placing us yet again on the fear-hope rack. I too have been infected by it all and it has led to a bit of ineffectual what’s-my-dharma induced hand-wringing . Kya karoon? - has been the refrain that has been ringing in my head. It is also the radeef of particularly dear ghazal. Since it seemed that a few hours of syllable-crunching is better anytime than fultile jaw-grinding , this got written.

Main akela jal ke bhi zulmat-e-dahar ka kya karoon

Bhuje lau khoon se jahan us rehguzar ka kya karoon

Kor-e-azaab se kuch pare simat ke par baitha hun main

Kaan-o-aankh tho moond loon mauj-e-bahar ka kya karoon

Aaqoot-e-khoon bikhere huye sameta woh chowk par

Ibn-e-khizaan se aabshaar hota gauhar ka kya karoon

Nigahbaani-e-gham se fursat shab bhar ki hai mohlat

Aankh bhar ke nijaat li fugaan-e-sahar kya kya karoon

*Waqt-e-khiraam ki har adaa yaad mein apne taraash loon

Tez fizaaon mein bahega hi ilm-e-nahar ka kya karoon

*God mein khet ke let kar main ek saans le bhi loon

Gaun mein bahut sukoon magar soz-e-shahar ka kya karoon

Umr bhar ke uthe huyein hai dast-e-duaa zoya tere

Katne ke baad jo haat ho aise mehar ka kya karoon

*These were written a long time ago, which is why they are different in character from the rest, which have almost a common thread of thought. But high and low alts in the same ghazal I find interesting.