bujhee huee raakh, TooTe hue geet, Doobe hue chaa(n)d,
reete hue paatr, beete hue kShaN-saa -
- meraa yah jism
kal tak jo jaadoo thaa, sooraj thaa, veg thaa
tumhaare aashleSh men
aaj vah jooḌe se gire hue bele-saa
TooTaa hai, mlaan hai
dugunaa sunasaan hai
beete hue utsav-saa, uThe hue mele-saa -
meraa yah jism -
TooTe kha(n)Daharon ke ujaaḌ antःpur men
chhooTaa huaa ek saabit maNijaTit darpaN-saa -
aadhee raat dansh bharaa baahuheen
pyaasaa sarpeelaa kasaav ek
jise jakaḌ letaa hai
apanee gunjalak men
ab sirph mai hoo(n), yah tan hai, aur yaad hai
khaalee darpaN men dhu(n)dhalaa-saa ek, pratibimb
muḌ-muḌ laharaataa huaa
nij ko doharaataa huaa!
...................
...................
kaun thaa vah
jis ne tumhaaree baa(n)hon ke aavart men
garimaa se tan kar samay ko lalakaaraa thaa!
kaun thaa vah
jis kee alakon men jagat kee samast gati
ba(n)dh kar paraajit thee!
kaun thaa vah
jis ke charam saakShaatkaar kaa ek gaharaa kShaN
saare itihaas se baḌaa thaa, sashakt thaa!
kaun thaa kanu, vah,
tumhaaree baa(n)hon men
jo sooraj thaa, jaadoo thaa, divy thaa, mantr thaa
ab sirph main hoo(n), yah tan hai, aur yaad hai.
mantr-paḌhe baaN-se chhooT gaye tum to kanu,
sheSh rahee main keval,
kaa(n)patee pratyanchaa-see
ab bhee jo beet gayaa,
usee men basee huee
ab bhee un baahon ke chhalaave men
kasee huee
jin rookhee alakon men
main ne samay kee gati baa(n)dhee thee -
haay unheen kaale naagapaashon se
din-pratidin, kShaN-pratikShaN baar-baar
Da(n)see huee
ab sirph main hoo(n), yah tan hai -
- aur sanshay hai
- bujhee huee raakh men chhipee chingaaree-saa
reete hue paatr kee aakhiree boo(n)d-saa
paa kar kho dene kee vyathaa-bharee goo(n)j-saa ......
