december ki ghani raaton mein
jab baadal barasta hai
larazti khamushi
jab baal khole
corridoron mein sisakti hai
to aatish-dan ke aage
kahin se wo dabe-panw
mere pahlu mein aati hai
aur apne marmarin hathon se
mere baal suljhate hue
sargoshiyon mein dard ke qisse sunati hai
july ki do-pahren
mumtiyon se jab utar kar
aanganon mein phail jati hain
aur ek aawara sannata
chhaton par bhaari qadmon se
badi aahistagi ke sath chalta hai
to wo chupke se mere pas aati hai
aur apne dhime lahje mein
wo sari dastanen kah sunati hai
jinhen sun kar main dhimi aanch par
pahron sulagta hun
kisi girje ke viran lawn mein
jab january
apne sunahri gesuon ko khol kar
koi purana git gati hai
to wo ek an-chhui nan ki tarah
patthar ke benchon par
mere kandhe pe sar rakkhe
mere chehre pe apni ungliyon se
sog likhti hai
kisi wadi ke tanha dak-bangle mein
kabhi jab sham roti hai
siyah kafi ke pyalon se
lapakti bhap mein
baaton ke biscuit phul jate hain
to wo bhi jangali belon se
uthti khushbuon se jism pati hai
mere nazdik aati hai
meri sanson ki pagdandi pe
dhire dhire chalti hai
mere andar utarti hai