You

Who are you?
Where did you come from?
Where will you go?
I know not, but this I know,
that in a sleepless city you seek solace.
Amidst its bustling bazaars you find anonymity.
Neon-lit resturants, old Iranian cafes, overnight rains, sea breeze draw you.

You have scars but you wear hope.
You feel pain but throw smiles.
You feel cold but give warmth.
Eyes give away what your lips hide.

Who are you?
Where did you come from?
Where will you go?
I know not...

Ambition

The mist came in from the west that night, brought with it a curse.
A darkness, darker than dark,
fed on fear and on the seven sins of man.

It doesn't sleep doesn't make a sound, just grows.
Into the forgotten corners of your mind, spreads it tentacles.
Plays with it and shows things
Some true mostly lies..
It doesn't stop till it ends..but it never ends.
Its called ambition.

Au revoir

I will be where you leave me when u return.
Quite but expectant,
Indifferent but glad.
I will stand where you leave me.
While the shadows will grow long and short,
Through sleepless nights and make- belief days.
I will wait with rainy days, poems and coffee
Till then au revoir...

Where were you?

Where were you when they turned hope into despair,
When they snatched our breads from our children's mouths,
When they barricaded our lanes and bylanes with fear and hatred?

Where were you when darkness and winter were parachuted into our lives,
When black orchids were placed on the graves of our martyrs,
When they defiled our faith and sanctum sanctorum?

Where were you when they changed the colour of my beloved city?

Paris

The smoke still bellows from the walls of the Bastille.
In the backstreet cafe, resistance gets served in cups of espresso.
Maximillian slogans appear like labels on fine wine bottles.
The air still hangs heavy with the smell of gunpowder and burnt flesh.

I taste revolution in your lips,
Liberty in ur hair,
Equality in your eyes,
Enfranchisement in your touch...

To Lyric - Free Forever

Through the Khyber pass,
Through ancient trade routes and
Even older Sarai Khanas
into a world of poetry, cafes and rain
I want you to disappear.

Sail by sea, be a pirate, chart your own maps.
Explore and conquer,
Travel through forests, be Robin hood, bow to none,
Tame a Unicorn, ride a Pegasus, slay a dragon, love a fair maiden..

Paint, write, sing, read,
Get high, get drunk on life,
Grow no roots, never settle,
Stay free forever.

Corner - reprise

It does not rain here
No river flows through these buildings
No monuments, statues, obelix talk of heroic past.
No lovers meet over wine and cigarettes at cafes or neon restuarants.
No museum hold any twilight relic between legends and myths.

And yet here hearts still beat,
Lips quiver,
Hands shake,
Words fumble..poems get written.

Coz you bring new digital picture perfect mornings,
You bring clouds grey and solemn.
You paint these sun roasted buildings with truth,
Roads with songs.
You smoothen the rough edges of this rational city with irrational colours..

Once smoothen,
the green corners ever so hidden
Get exposed.
Where we accidently meet
Over cigarettes, wine and fine espresso.
Then this city turns into Prague, Paris, Florence..