Neeche Tak

Lag raha tha andhera, akelapan aur athah dabav
mere sar par,
main doob raha tha ||
Haath paanv maarne ki taaqat aur chaahat dono
jaise kisi door desh, mujhe chhod chhad kar,
nirvasit ||
Khare paani aur aasoon mil-julkar kab mujhe ek
potli sa jadhvat,
Jaise aagaami kal kisi aur ke ghar, kisi aur ka
santaan, kisi aur ki videsh yatra,
Jaise beete kal ka jamaa-khata kore shunya sa munh
baaye, baanjh shikaayaten liye, asamanjas ||
Doobte doobte saanson ki aakhri chhor jab chhut
rahi thi, ek seepi haath lagi;
Jeewan mrityu ka farq tatolti meri ungliyan thokar
khate khate jab jagaya us mare hue seepi ko,
Ek moti tha, thodi rait se bhara, thoda mat-maila
sa, par woh moti tha ||

Use chunkar phir satah tak uthne ki taaqat aur
himmat hai ya nahi, nahi pataa ||

Abhi ungliyun se khelkar muthhi mein bund ek moti
hai, aur satah par akar lambi saasein lene ki meri
amar ichhaein ||