ನೆನ್ನೆ ಸಂಜೆ - कल शाम

ಮಬ್ಬುಗತ್ತಲು
ಬಸ್ ಸ್ಟಾಪಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಒಬ್ಬಳೇ ನಿಂತಿದ್ದೆ
ಸುರಿದ ಮಳೆಗೆ ರಸ್ತೆಯೆಲ್ಲ ಒದ್ದೆಯಾಗಿತ್ತು
ಮರದ ಎಲೆಗಳಿಂದ ಹನಿಗಳಿನ್ನೂ ಬೀಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು
ಕೊಚ್ಚೆ ನೀರಿಗೆ ಸಿಗದಂತೆ ನಿಂತಿದ್ದೆ ಕಾಯುತ್ತಾ ಬಸ್ಸಿಗೆ

ಲೈಟ್ ಹಾಕಿ ಕೆಲವು, ಹಾಕದೆ ಕೆಲವು ಬಸ್ಸು ಬಂದವು, ಹೋದವು
ಬೀದಿ ದೀಪದ ಬೆಳಕಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ
ಕಣ್ಣು ಕಿರಿದಾಗಿಸಿ ಬೋರ್ಡು ಓದಿ ಕೈ ಅಡ್ಡ ಹಿಡಿದಿದ್ದೆ ಎಲ್ಲವಕು
ಯಾವೂ ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಲಿಲ್ಲ! ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ನನ್ನ ಗಮ್ಯವ ದಾಟುವವೇ
ಇದೇನಿದು ವಿಚಿತ್ರ ಇಂದು? ಯೋಚನೆಗೀಡಾಗಿದ್ದೆ

ಛತ್ರಿಯಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಮಳೆಗೆ ಸಿಗುವ ಗಾಬರಿ ಬೇರೆ ಮನದಲ್ಲಿ
ಬಸ್ಸು ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಬೇರಾವುದೇ ವಾಹನಗಳ ಸುಳಿವಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ ರಸ್ತೆಯಲಿ
ಜೋರು ಮಳೆಯ ಶನಿವಾರದ ಸಂಜೆ, ಯಾರಾದರು ರಸ್ತೆಗ್ಯಾಕೆ ಇಳಿದಾರು?
ಮತ್ತೆ ನಾಲ್ಕು ಬಸ್ಸುಗಳು ನನ್ನ ಇರುವ ಗಮನಿಸದೆ ಸಾಗಿದವು
ನಿಲ್ದಾಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಹಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರಾದರು ಬರಲಿ, ಮನದ ಬಯಕೆ

ನೆನ್ನೆವರೆಗೂ ಕಂಡಾಗೆಲ್ಲ ಕಾಡಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಕಾಮಣ್ಣ ಹಾಜರಾಗಬೇಕೆ?
ಸಂಜೆ, ಒಂಟಿ ನಾನು, ಮಳೆ ಬಂದ ಭೂಮಿ, ಮನ ನಡುಗಿತ್ತು
ಅವನ ಸಿಳ್ಳು, ಮಾತುಗಳ ಮಳೆ ಸುರಿಯಲಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದಿನಂತೆ, ನಾನು ದಂಗಾದೆ
ಅವನ ಕಡೆಗೆ ನಾಲ್ಕು ಬಾರಿ ನೋಡಿ ಸುಮ್ಮನಾದೆ
ಮರೆತೇ ಹೋಗಿತ್ತು, ನೆನ್ನೆ ನಾನು ಕರೆಂಟು ತಗುಲಿ ಸತ್ತುಹೋಗಿದ್ದು
ಮತ್ತೆ ಬಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ಕಾಯುವ ಹಂಗ್ಯಾಕೆಂದು ಗಾಳಿಯಲಿ ತೇಲುತ್ತಾ ಸಾಗಿದೆ.

ಭಾಶೇ


कल शाम

साँझ था,
बस स्टॉप पर अकेली खड़ी थी.
बारिश से रास्ता गीला था
पेड़ों के पत्तों से पानी की बूंदें टपक रही थी
कीचड़ से बचते में बस के इंतजार में खड़ी थी.

कुछ बसें लाइट जलाये कुछ बिन जलाये आई और चली गयी
बिजली के खम्बों पर भी लाइट नहीं थी,
धुंधले से प्रकाश में बोर्ड पढ़ हर बस को रोका था मैंने
किसी ने भी नहीं रोका, सब मेरे गम्य की तरफ ही जा रहे थे
ये क्या अजीब है आज! सोच में पड़ गई.

बिना छाता के बारिश में फंसने का डर था मन में
बस के सिवा कोई ओर वाहन नहीं था रस्ते में
जोर बारिश की शनिवार की शाम थी रस्ते में क्यों कोई आता
फिर से चार बस मुझे बिन देखे चले गई
स्टॉप पर कोई सह यात्री तो आ जाये... मन की आशा

हमेशा छेड़ने वाले सड़क छाप हाजिर हो गया
शाम, अकेली मैं, भीगा हुई रस्ता, मन डर गया
उसकी सीटी, बातों की बारिश शुरू नहीं हुई मैं चौंक गयी!
चार बार उसकी तरफ देख कर चुप हो गयी
भूल ही गयी थी, कल मैं बिजली छू के मर गयी थी

भाशे

Castle

I put my heart and soul in building the sand castle
One strong wave washes it all away
I try and retain some sculptures
Till my energy dies, then I walk back home

Ruined castle haunts me in my dreams
The stories I built around the castle
About the king, about the queen
About their love, war and untold mysteries

I become a part of the castle play,
I play all parts, I am the king, and I am the servant
In the nights, the waves provide the music
Stars my audience and rocks my stage

Sun and moon started talking about the play
Castle now builds on its own
This time it is strong to withstand tsunami
It’s wide enough to accommodate the sky

The waves once ruined my castle, now wash my feet gently
The castle once haunted me, now brings colors to my dreams
With respect, pleasure and pride I stand on the rocks
Watching my castle grow, stand and smile.

BhaShe

Addiction

Every time I cut that thread which binds us
You stretch your arms in my dreams
I come to you, wanting you, loving you

I fight with myself to pull myself out
Out of attachments towards you
I fall deep, I feel more belonged

I am destroyed, ruined, helpless
Lost control and desperate
Your arms have brought me here

I tear off everything and scream loud
I pull myself to get out of your control
You tighten your arms and I fail

I want you is no more, I am addicted to you
You are a poison, I know, still I can’t stop myself
I know you won’t let me go till I turn into ashes.

BhaShe

Letter to a Known Stranger

Dear Stranger,

I am not sure what you will feel after reading this, but what to do? I was not able to resist myself from writing this. I wanted to know from you if I over did something that has stopped you from being what you are?

You are different and I felt it the first day we met. In that filled compartment where I was all surrounded by my family members, relatives and friends, but I was feeling so lonely. None of them found that out. Your eyes caught it the first time you saw me. Even after having so many my people around me my mouth was shut. We just saw each other and I turned my face. Am sure you were looking at me for some time at-least. That’s the reason you still remember me and smiled at me this time.

I liked you in the first look but I was so depressed that day that I never said anything. We continued the journey, you got down first and I missed you till I reached my destination.

Life went on. I never thought I would ever meet you again. I always wanted to meet you and was not sure as I never took any contact details. I dreamt of you meeting me again and making me smile. I felt that you may be able to give me such comfort.

4 years passed and there I was, post graduate, with a job in hand and enough energy and smile to light up the whole world. Life changed me from an introvert to an extrovert. I somehow always attributed that quality of mine to you and gave you the credit for whatever I became. I know you would think that this is so irrelevant and mindless but I felt happy giving you the credit. I felt satisfied doing so.

This time when I met you, though you recognized and smiled at me the feeling of surprise was clearly visible on your face. I think even you never thought that you would meet me again and not for sure with such bright colours. I was all happy and waved my hand when I saw you. I should thank that train.

We spoke this time and we spoke a lot. I told you everything that was there in my heart. I think the saying that only in front of strangers you can empty yourself is so true. I spoke everything and you were all ears to listen. Though the journey was very short it was very sweet and memorable.

This time we exchanged contact details and promised each other that we would write or text. I was happy and thrilled to meet you again. We departed on the railway station taking two different directions.

I was not able to call you or write you for 5 – 6 days as I got lost in some personal work. However influenced by your charming personality I wrote poems on you and was eager to show them to you. I was influenced by you. Here is the poem I wrote for you:

You are always noticed... you are not like them
They are always lost in doing their profit and loss accounts
And you counted smiles and cared for tears

You are always admired... you deserve it
You keep the human being inside you always alive
They live with dead faces

You care and you show you care
You identify people by what they are and not by what you want to see in them
It fills up the identity need

Truthfulness spills out of your eyes
Concern out of every word you speak
People keep their heart open and share secrets with you

You know when to be ears, when to be silent
You know when to crack that joke and pull a leg
You are new age Krishna spreading joy all around

I wish to fine more people like you... more human beings
Who make this world a better place to live
Who donate smile and wipe others tears

Hope you remember reading this poem on the first mail I sent.
I was so excited to have a means to reach you whenever I was down or breaking or feeling low. I felt that you are going to be my source of inspiration always. I showed all my excitement and happiness when I wrote you the first time.

Was that a little too much of happiness and belongingness shown on a stranger? Did I over do it?

You never replied to that mail of mine. Whenever I tried your number it said out of coverage area. I thought that you might be traveling and because of which you were not reachable. So many days passed, now my hope started dying. I thought I had found a treasure, a true great friend, an always trustworthy person but I now I feel I have gone terribly wrong.

You never replied to any of those mails of mine, nor picked my calls or replied to my messages. My dream of having you as a great friend of mine is not shattered. I clearly understand you are avoiding me.

Here, by putting all these words in this letter all I want to tell you is that, I did not expect anything from you other than care and concern. I don’t have any feelings other than being a friend of yours. You have shown disrespect to such pure feelings of mine but I forgive you. I still attribute my success to you and hope to hear from you soon.

I thank you for whatever you were to me and hope to see you again. I hope this letter of mine reaches you.

Anonymous

ಹೂವ ಹಿಡಿವ ಆಟ

ಬೇಸಿಗೆಯ ಬಿಸಿಲು ಮರಗಳಿಗೆ ಬಣ್ಣ ಬಳಿದಿತ್ತು
ಮರವು ಹೂವಾಗಿತ್ತು ಮರವು ಹಾಡಾಗಿತ್ತು
ನೆನ್ನೆ ಹೂವಾದ ಹೂವುಗಳು ಇಂದು ಭೂಮಿಗೆ ಮುತ್ತಿಕ್ಕಲು
ಗಾಳಿಯಲಿ ತೇಲುತ್ತ ಭೂಮಿಗಿಳಿದಿದ್ದವು ಮಣ್ಣಾಗಿದ್ದವು
ಹಾಗೆ ಹಾರಿದ ಹತ್ತು ಹಲವು ಹೂಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕೆಲವು ಮಾತ್ರ
ಆ ಹೂವಿನ ಲಂಗದ ಹುಡುಗಿಯ ಕೈಯೊಳಗಿದ್ದವು

ನೆನ್ನೆ ನಾಳೆಗಳ ಚಿಂತೆಯಿಲ್ಲದ ಆ ಪುಟ್ಟ ಹುಡುಗಿ
ಬೆಳ್ಳಂಬೆಳಗೇ ಹೊಸದೊಂದು ಆಟ ಹುಡುಕಿತ್ತು
ಮರದಿಂದ ಭೂಮಿಗುದುರುವ ಹೂಗಳ ಹಿಡಿವ ಆಟ
ತನ್ನ ಪುಟ್ಟ ಬೊಗಸೆಯೊಡ್ಡಿ ಗಾಳಿಯಂತೆ ಸುಳಿದು
ತೇಲಿ ಬರುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಒಂದೊಂದೇ ಹೂಗಳ ಹಿಡಿಯುತ್ತಿತ್ತು
ಬೊಗಸೆ ತುಂಬಿದಂತೆ ಕಟ್ಟೆಗೋಡಿ ಗುಡ್ಡೆ ಹಾಕುತಿತ್ತು

ಹಾರಿ ಬಂದು ಕಣ್ಣ ತುಂಬುವ ಧೂಳಿಗೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪವು ಅಳುಕದೆ
ಕಾಲಿಗೊತ್ತುವ ಕಲ್ಲುಗಳ ನೋವನು ಅನುಭವಿಸದೆ
ಮರದ ಸುತ್ತಾ ಸುಳಿಯುತ್ತಿತ್ತು ಒಂದು ಮಿಂಚಂತೆ
ಅದು ಹೂಗಳ ಅದೃಷ್ಟವೇ ಮೆತ್ತಗಿನ ಕೈ ಸೇರುವುದು?
ಆ ಹುಡುಗಿಯ ಮುಖದ ಮೇಲೆ ನಲಿಯುತಿದ್ದ ನಗು
ಯಾವ ಹೂವ ನಗುವಿಗೂ ಕಮ್ಮಿಯಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ

ಮೇಲೇರಿದ ಎತ್ತರದಿಂದ ಕಷ್ಟಕ್ಕೊಳಗಾಗಿ ಬೀಳುವಾಗ
ಹೀಗೆ ಅಮೃತ ಸ್ತ್ರೀಯರು ನಮ್ಮ ಹಿಡಿಯುತ್ತಾರೆ
ಅವರೊಂದು ನಗುವಿಂದ ನಮ್ಮ ನೋವ ಮರೆಸುತ್ತಾರೆ
ನಮಗೆ ಜೀವದಾನವನೀಯುತ್ತಾರೆ ಹರಸುತ್ತಾರೆ
ಈ ಹೂವ ಬಾಲಿಕೆಗೆ ನನ್ನದೊಂದು ನಮನ ಧನ್ಯವಾದ
ನನಗೆ ಗುರುವಾದದಕ್ಕೆ ಈ ಕವನದ ಸ್ಪೂರ್ತಿಯಾದದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ

ಭಾಶೇ