Priti Talkies

DON'T BITE THE BAIT   Every five years they manifest with fake tears A concern that's loaded with barter Every five years they reap a harvest of fears Pretending to be your martyrs Every five years they put on a mask Behind which is maybe just hate O man you've slumbered enough Wake up and don't bite the bait! Does your wisdom not laugh and mock you As you turn a blind eye to reason Does your finger not rise in angered protest When they appear for just that one season Does your heart not ask,"Is he right for the task?" "Will this one finally change our fate?" O man you've blundered  enough Swim away and don't bite the bait! Think of the ones who fought for our freedom The ones who gallantly paved the way Think of the ones who will bear your blood The ones you cannot, at any cost, betray Think of what's right and good for this land Which bears the mantle of being great O man you've tumbled enough Stand up and don't bite the bait! D

वो ख़ाली पन्ना  बहुत अरसे से मैं इसे टाल रही थी ये मुलाक़ात इतनी आसान नहीं  जैसे किसी अजनबी से रूबरू होना  "क्या बोलूँ, क्या कहूँ, क्या सुनूँ" और इस बार कौन सी कहानी बुनु? वो कश्मकश, वो बेचैनी वो पसीने से भरा माथा  जैसे किसी कुश्ती की शुरुआत हो  इस बार, ना जाने किसकी जीत  और ना जाने किसकी मात हो  ये प्रतिद्वंदी आख़िर काफ़ी जाना पहचाना था  और हम कई बार ये मुक़ाबला लड़ चुके थे  फिर भी ना जाने क्यूँ, ये ख़ौफ़ कभी जाता नहीं  ख़ौफ़ उस ख़ाली पन्ने का  उसकी दबी हँसी  उसकी सफ़ेदी की चौंध  उसकी असीम गहराई  एक काला कुआँ  एक तलहीन खाई  ना जाने कितनी कहानियाँ उसके सीने में दफ़्न हैं  और, हर बार की तरह, मुझे आज फिर  उस ख़ाली पन्ने को खोदना है  उसके  अभिमानी कोरेपन को  गोदना है सिर्फ़, अपनी एक छोटी कलम के बल पर  II                                   - प्रीति सिंह 

AN ADVENTURE CALLED LIFE   So, it all began in my mother's small womb A squishy, a slimy, a snuggly warm room Till a feeble me, was yanked out by a mid-wife Into this amazing adventure, that we all call life As I drooled and crawled, on all my limbs four Sneaking through possibly, every open door With curiosity writ large, on my chubby red face I would navigate our house, that looked like a maze By the time I could walk, we'd moved homes again From station to station, without my consent As we went from one town, to others on transfers Carrying loads of questions, but not many answers This uprooting initially, did jar my mind For I had no clue, of the treasures I'd find As we constructed, dismantled and rebuilt again Weaving a new story, with a prayer and amen! So don't  fear transition, and stop doubting change Life's not a flatline, with movement comes range For to flit like a butterfly, the cocoon must be shed Or you'll live like a caterpillar, with wings neve