**Respite**
He sought a respite, then reneged on his word;
Driven by desires and fleeting passions, he departed.
I did not realize this fiery intensity would be my undoing;
I was consumed by the very fire I myself had kindled.
The healers began their work in earnest;
Yet, witnessing the sheer strength of my resolve, they could only wring their hands in helplessness.
The evening of separation—will it end right here?
Lost in this hope, another day has faded away.
I had already sensed the impending betrayal;
It is fortunate that I regained my footing while there was still time.
Amidst the ceaseless tug-of-war of "mine, mine,"
The true destiny of my loved ones slipped away.
That fleeting moment of encounter—
That moment of walking the path of true nature—has now passed.
11-4-2026
**Melting**
I am not merely *time* itself, to be subject to change;
Nor am I *wax*, destined to simply melt away.
Should any discord arise—I will not resort to betrayal;
Instead, I will quietly and gently slip away from this place.
To preserve the thread of dialogue and connection,
If spoken to with love, my heart will soften and yield.
However, if the matter concerns the path of Truth and Righteousness,
I will depart from any place where my dignity is not upheld.
They cast their piercing, arrow-like gazes upon me;
But I will steady my heart and stand firm.
If the atmosphere of the gathering holds true spirit and depth,
Hearing the verses of poetry, my soul will stir with delight.
And if it be God's will, my friend,
I shall step forth from my humble home and enter the grand palace.
12-4-2026
**The Meeting**
He who grants the privilege of an audience is one in a thousand;
The true beauty of his being lies within his words and his eyes.
However he chooses to keep me, I shall remain silent and compliant;
For this is my only strategy—my destiny rests entirely in his hands.
It was evident that he loves with a passion bordering on madness;
That sheer intensity of devotion overflows in every word he speaks.
I placed my trust in him with eyes closed—and I shall continue to do so;
For my faith in his promises runs even deeper than my faith in the man himself.
**Repose** Take some time to read this, and you will understand;
All the forgotten tales of love lie preserved within the pages of books.
12-4-2026
**Lip to Lip**
From one person's lips to another's, the tone of voice varies distinctly;
Every region and city possesses its own unique style of speech.
There is a special joy when one speaks in one's own dialect amongst one's own people;
It is then that one truly expresses the state of one's heart in one's native tongue.
Believe it or not, true conversation only happens when the stars align in one's favor;
It is about letting oneself be carried away by the very flow of words that issue forth from one's own lips.
When a silent dialogue unfolds amidst the quietude;
The playful mischief in the eyes, empowered by the lips, creates a language all its own.
The silence of the lips can shatter all inhibitions;
For in that moment, hearts communicate directly, each understanding the true state of the other.
13-4-2026
**The Courtesan**
Yes, I am a courtesan, but I never break up a home;
Whatever I am, however I may be, I never deceive anyone.
I wring myself dry—consuming my very self—yet never;
Do I forcibly extract money from anyone.
I burn myself out to extinguish the fires of another's lust;
But for the sake of indulgence, I never set fire to—or destroy—anyone's home.
It is a matter of survival—for my own sinful belly and that of my loved ones;
I do not walk the paths of obscurity or aimless wandering.
I, too, could have been the pride and joy of an honest, respectable family;
Had there been someone to love me, I would never have become a courtesan.
14-4-2026
2
If I hadn't become a courtesan, what else could I have done?
If I hadn't consumed my own life in this fire, what else could I have done?
The greatest struggle in life is the belly's hunger;
So, to earn a livelihood—if I hadn't become a woman of the night—what else could I have done?
In this world, where wolves roam freely everywhere;
If I hadn't sought refuge in this path before being subjected to rape—what else could I have done?
With respect... I have wandered far and wide just to survive;
If I hadn't gone against my own will, what else could I have done?
To fulfill my duties toward my loved ones,
If I hadn't pressed forward with sheer determination, what else could I have done?
Had I parents or a brother, I would have adorned myself for my own sake;
If I hadn't adorned myself for the sake of others, what else could I have done?
When the merciless blows of life beat me down,
If I hadn't yielded to the flow of time, what else could I have done?
14-4-2026
**Desire**
That you come and dwell within my heart—this is not mere desire; it is something far deeper.
That we embrace one another with love—this is not mere desire; it is something far deeper.
Holding hands—lest we fear the ocean's waves—
And walking side by side—this is not mere desire; it is something far deeper.
To gaze upon your face at every meeting, every single day,
And to blossom like a flower—this is not mere desire; it is something far deeper.
What kind of bond has entwined these two hearts,
That they yearn to live fully, even if only for a moment? This is not mere desire; it is something far deeper.
Even if by accident—when a mere touch occurs—
And our heartbeats flutter—this is not mere desire; it is something far deeper.
15-4-2026
**Desire**
It is a yearning for boundless love, and nothing else;
It is a yearning for a true companion, and nothing else.
I do not wish for you to sit by my side twenty-four hours a day;
It is a yearning for just a single moment of togetherness, and nothing else.
To make the moments of solitude beautiful and enchanting,
It is a yearning for colorful memories, and nothing else.
Like cool moonlight, shimmering with stars,
It is a yearning for an intoxicating night, and nothing else.
Even if brief, amidst our meeting,
It is a yearning for a sweet, beautiful conversation—and nothing else.
15-4-2026
**Waiting**
Breaking a fragile heart, you ask, "How are you?"
Abandoning me halfway on the path, you ask, "How are you?"
Who knows how long I sat here, waiting and waiting?
Having turned your own path away, you ask, "How are you?"
Every day, seeing people wearing masks,
And chasing after others, you ask, "How are you?"
Forgetting the sweet moments of our love today,
And forging ties with mere beauty, you ask, "How are you?"
I am dying from the agony of waiting—oh, you heartless one!
You pick at my still-raw wounds and ask, "How are you?"
16-4-2026
**Helplessness**
Do not force me to breathe my last, broken by this waiting.
I beg of you: never let me become so utterly exhausted and shattered.
Today, if I have grown strong through the nurturing hands of a mother's love,
Then do not look upon my helplessness with such arrogance and pride.
I know that the customs and traditions of this world hold you back;
But come what may, do not let yourself drift away from your true self.
If you hear things, keep your composure and remain centered,
For people will keep saying whatever they please—but do not let it drive you to madness.
If you wish to leave, walk away quietly, without making a sound;
Do not invent excuses or pretexts just to part ways, my dear.
17-4-2026
**Alive**
Keep writing verses like unseasonal rains,
And by letting yourself be drenched, keep blooming just so.
To keep the world within your heart fresh and vibrant,
Keep meeting with friends, simply for the sake of meeting—without any ulterior motive.
By singing lively *ghazals* in the gathering,
Keep stitching together the pieces of your broken heart.
To prove that you are truly alive in this world,
Keep showing your face and making your presence felt in the assembly.
However God chooses to keep you—my friend—
Just keep shining on, quietly and serenely.
17-4-2026
**The Struggle**
An entire lifetime slipped away in the struggle for a perfect life;
The search for the destination remained—unknown... I lost my way,
Wandering aimlessly along the paths.
Counting the twinkling stars in the cool, moonlit night,
Overcome by the agony of waiting, sleep itself fled from my eyes today.
After ages, Beauty herself has promised a rendezvous;
And so, when the sun broke through the clouds, my eyes lit up with joy.
Behold, my friend, this gathering filled with poetry and verse—
In the presence of such seasoned poets, the poetry within me simply overflowed.
In the long nights of separation, the moments refuse to pass;
Yet, at the touch of a gentle breeze drifting through the air, a bud softly swayed.
18-4-2026
**The Traveler**
Do not bid me farewell as you depart this city;
It causes immense pain to watch you walk away.
You left in silence, without a word exchanged;
You could have at least bestowed a little love and affection before leaving.
If ever your travels bring you this way again—even for a fleeting moment—
Bear the bittersweet burden of a reunion as you pass through the city.
How am I to spend the remainder of my days?
You could have at least left behind a flower to soothe my lonely heart.
Knowing that you have taken up residence within my very soul—
You could have, out of mercy, at least locked away the chest of memories before leaving.
For the sake of one last, lingering gaze—my dear friend—
You could have lifted the veil of modesty and shyness from your eyes.
Who knows when—or if—I shall ever return?
You could have, at least, quenched this burning thirst for one final glimpse.
19-4-2026
**Solitude**
To the one before whom I laid down all the light of my life—
That very one silently handed me over to the care of others.
Smiling, you walked away without ever looking back—my friend;
You cast aside the beautiful flower—my heart—that had come your way.
To ensure no shadow of doubt or suspicion remained—I confessed everything;
I laid bare the truth behind even the most trivial, nonsensical matters.
Now, I have no desire to speak to anyone ever again;
I have surrendered my very self to the mercy of fate.
I harbor no expectations, nor shall I voice any grievances henceforth;
I shall simply make do with whatever destiny has allotted me.
What have you truly gained by keeping the secrets of your heart locked within?
Why did you let so much time pass before finally declaring your love?
Today, solitude has laid siege to me, leaving my body and soul desolate;
And so, to bring some solace to my heart, I have begun exchanging silent glances with my own eyes.
20-4-2026
