raqs
sham khadi hai

bhuri jhadiyon,
pili ghason ke khemon se bahar niklo

narm hawaen baalon ki jhaalar se guzarti
lambe lambe kanon mein khargoshi karti hain

surkh konplen
sabz pattiyan

sanp chhatriyan
jangal mein godam khula hai pagal

apne bekal nathnon mein
is khush-bu ka chhalla dal ke raqs karo

har khatre ko chakma do
chor chatanon ke niche

sau darwaze hain
kisar phulon ke bistar hain

dhum machane ko sara maidan pada hai
maut

aur tum apne shabistan chhod kar
is bayaban ke andhere raste par

khun mein lat-pat pade ho
is ki aakhir kya zarurat thi

wahan par tum jahan ke hukmaran the
kya nahin tha?

khwab ki diwar kyun-kar par karna chahte the
is tajassus mein kashish kaisi hai

na-malum ko taskhir ki tamanna kis liye hai
is purani aarzu-mandi mein kya hai

is khayaban ke aqab mein
wo jo pur-asrar duniyaen basi hain

wo hamein kyun khinchti hain?