Author: Swati Sani

आहुती

उषा की निमर्ति
निशा की आहुति
तारों का टूटना
गिरना ‌और बिखरना
सपनों की आहुति
पत्थरों की पूजा
धरती की ठोकर
गिरती हुयी मंजिल
उडती हुयी राहें
जिन्दगी की आहुती

अश्क

गमों की रहगुज़र पर जब अश्कों ने भी साथ न दिया
तो हम चल पडे अकेले ही मंज़िल की तलाश में
आंख की कोर पर बूंद मानों लटक कर रह गयी
और धीरे धीरे हालात की आंधी ने उसे भी सोख लिया

मैं!

मैं निराशा की गर्त में डूबने वालों में नहीं
आशा की कोर को छूना जानती हूं ।
यथार्थ को जी कर सपनों को पालती हूं
इस छोर पर खडी हो उस छोर की
बाट जोहने वालों में नहीं
मैं अंतहीन होना जानती हूं ।
विध्वंसक न सही
मैं हौले से आंचल के कोर से
खुद अपने आंसू पोछना जानती हूं ।
शब्दों की गहराइ में उतरती भी हूँ
पर उथले कीचड को पहचानती हूं
ज़रा सी ठेस से टूटने वालों में मैं नहीं,
अपने टुकडों को समेटना जानती हूं ।
निराशा के अंधेरों में डूबने वालों में नहीं
मैं आशा की हर सहर बिताना जानती हूं ।

India Today!


For the uninitiated, Limericks are 5 liners with rhyming pattern of aa bb a i.e the first, second and fifth lines follow similar rhyme with the second and third line following a different rhyme. Limericks were popular atleast during my teenage on account of their salacious content and humour. If the youngsters of today can enlighten me on its current status, I would be grateful.  
 

                                     I
There was a MP who slapped the manager of a bank,

Drunk with power, hiding behind his status and rank,

Caught on the camera, the whole episode he denied, 

On his own political clout as a SC/ST leader he relied,

Do we require such leaders? That is my question frank.

                                     II

And now, I hear even a High Court judge has sought,

Protection from Minister, whose loyalty is easily bought,

The quagmire, the muck, the corruption vile,

Makes me mad and angry, brings up my bile,

This is not the freedom for which our forefathers fought.

 
                                     III

There was a talk of Section 377 finally being abolished,

The age old law was definitely draconian and ghoulish,

With great enthusiasm, out came the gay pride,

Only to realise that they have been taken for a ride,

The Govt is scared of its vote bank being demolished.

 
                                     IV

Religion, caste, creed, region, ethnicity – our people divide,

On being Indians foremost there seems to be lesser pride,

Spurred on by politicians for their selfish personal gains,

To differentiate ourselves into sub groups we take pains,

When will the people of my country stem this rotten tide?

Life I know not

LIFE! I know not what thou art,
But know that thou and I must part;
And when, or how, or where we met
I own to me’s a secret yet.

Life! we’ve been long together,
Through pleasant and through cloudy weather;
‘Tis hard to part when friends are dear—
Perhaps ’twill cost a sigh, a tear;
—Then steal away, give little warning,
Choose thine own time;
Say not Good-night—but in some brighter clime
Bid me Good-morning.

— A L Barbauid

Second Foundation – Nitpicks

I am perhaps one of the last of “my era” reading Asimov’s Foundation series. Finished reading Second foundation yesterday and some very obvious errors in his writing caught my eyes.

Chapter 6 – One man, The mule and another – Mule suspects Channis to be a second foundationer and incapacitates him. When he comes to his senses : “It ended wth a cracking sensation that was like the jagged glare of a lightning flash, and Channis came slowly to earth while sight returned painfully in blurry transmission through tear-drenched eyes”

Chapter 18 -Ghost of a world – Arcadia has run away from Kalgan to her birthplace Trantor. Her emotions on reaching her birthplace “She had left, clangingly – running until her feet pounded softly on earth once more”

Chapter 18 -Ghost of a world – Arcadia is trying to persuade Preem Palver to go to war struck Terminus with food supplies – “The foundation traders in the old days used to do that all the time. There’d be war, so they’d sell whatever was needed bad and take their chances. Golly they use to make as much as two million dollars out of one trip – profit”

Chapter 21 -The answer that satisfied – Dr. Toran Darell uses the mind static device on Pelleas Anthor “with an unearthly shriek Pelleas Anthor sank to the floor”

While the use of words earth and unearthly can be attributed to the language per se (though I feel usage of term ground in first two instances and an adjective like eeire, ghostly or nightmarish would suit better). The usage of word dollars in chapter 18 however is totally incorrect as the foundationers used foundation credits as currency and not dollars.

Disclaimer: These nitpicks are for the purpose of academic interest only. I am totally in love with Issac Asimov’s Foundation series books.

Limericks !

A young truant leader carrying the Gandhi name,

Thought of minority bashing as gateway to fame,

The Election Commission did get hold,

Of a CD containing his statements bold,

Now the country understands Varun’s double game.

                                     II

In India, politics and elections make strange bedmates,

Leaders willing to ally given right incentives and rates,

Corrupt farmer, an errant teacher, a fodder chor,

Criminals, convicts and a circus of many more,

For being elected once more, all are the prime candidates.

                                     III

Then there was this very smart and pretty looking dame,

For getting married, she changed her religion and name,

Under pressure her political paramour ran for cover,

Without even the courtesy of telling her it’s all over,

She believed her politician would stand up, O what a shame.

                                      IV

A tin pot dictator of an Asian country small,

Produced mujahideens to aid the Soviet fall,

This group into a monster grew,

Into its fold all fanatics it drew,

And is consuming the country and its people all.