Naina Agarwal

कल उसने एक रात ओढ़ी थी; चाँद को माथे पर लगाया था।  एक डिब्बी जुगनू लपेट; अंगुली भर तारे समेट; रात की रानी के साथ पिरो -  बालों में गजरा लगाया था।  कल कलाई पर कुछ क्यारियाँ,  एक कालीन हथेली पर  सजा कुछ तितलियों से और तर्जनी पर सूरज किरन; उसने चंदन इत्र उढ़ेल  आँचल पर गुलशन महकाया था।  उसने चंद्रमुख बेला पिरो लक्ष्य रस में डुबो कर,  कल एक पाँव में बाँध  और दूसरे में खरी चांदनी,  मनभावन मृग चाल से बीहड़ में सरगम खनकाया था।  ***

Fancy. Classy. Maiden. Angel. Princess. Dame.  These are not the words that describe me-  Darling,  I am Free. Wild. Untamed.  I am rash, uncouth and dope  I am tiger with twenty-two horns.  I am sweat on farmer's axe,  I am clumsy; I make mistakes.  I am human; I have faults.  I err, and therefore, I am.  ***

Yellow butterfly in black ice  Searching for the nectar Mosses and lichen  And the undergrowth of nothing  Yellow butterfly went past all Then came across an orchard  Of daisies and lilies  Marigolds and orchids  And Oh! There in lay roses too  But yellow butterfly   The resident of black ice  Couldn't handle it all  It went from flower to flower  But sucked no nectar  Daisy smiled its daisy smile  And Sunflower ignored the Sun  But yellow butterfly  Proud and tall Kept on flying above them all  Orchids being orchids  Proud and substantial  Turned themselves away At being approached by the yellow butterfly   "That hurts!" exclaimed he  And so he started playing  With every other flower  Teasing and touching  Marigolds and lilies  White, pink, orange  Even the purple calendulas  Then his eyes stopped on the red rose! Those gentle gentle eyes on  The passionate red rose  And the red rose glanced back  Smiling its fiery smile  That took yellow butterfly's heart away.  It

With all its stars, shooting stars,  Black holes and worm holes,  Rocks, ice, ions and space,  Sand fire and sound,  Light, life and air,  Colours and dimensions,  One missing centre  And absolutely nothingness;  Except for his heart  and that of my own,  The Universe is inside me.  ***

I took out the crisp orange bedsheet And began unfolding when suddenly  Your lighter fell out on the floor  And I stooped to pick it up but couldn't.    I  stooped to pick it up but couldn't.  So, I kicked hard an d slept; Knowing th at I have your lighter under my bed.  Tonight you may burn me once again; Tomorrow I will rise from the ashes.  ***