Poets Pub 5th Anniversary Collection - 2020

Castles (Vineha)

Vineha
2018 May Winner
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Castles

As a child, feet buried under sand,
I loved digging holes that reached the salty sea water
carefully avoiding crab holes
careful not to trample pretty little shells
careful, to selfishly stock up the smooth round pebbles
careful to soak in the tingling salty air.
I never built castles.

kuch paane ki ho aas aas
koi armaan ho jo khaas khaas
aashayein..

Ambitions. Hopes. Plans. Glass shards.
  they make rainbows out of sunshine
  in the dark, they cut through you, stealthily.
I love the sunshine
rainbows can wait for monsoon showers
the shards are better left untouched
  perhaps that's why I never built castles.

kal kya hoga kisko pata
abhi zindagi ka lelo maza.

waking up at the break of dawn
enjoying the cup of chai with Mir-e-karwaan
gently playing on your phone;
treks and trips to corners of the world;
impromptu visits to kala ghoda
and pancham puriwala;
the satisfaction of cooking varan bhaat;
sometimes the joys of the present
are too fascinating to worry about uncertainties
perhaps that's why I never wished to build castles

Andhera hai ganna aur lahoo se sana

lockdown. riots. unemployment.
anxiety. hurt. disappointment.
I watched castles kicked, razed to ruin
the sea tearing away whatever little was left
at times, the present is too bleak
perhaps that's why I was afraid of building castles.

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A/N: Translations -

1. Kuch paane ki ho aas aas
Koi armaan ho joh khaas khaas:
There should be a fire to attain something
Like some special desire of yours
Song- aashaayein (movie- Iqbal)

2. kal kya hoga kisko pata
abhi zindagi ka lelo maza.
(Who knows what will happen tomorrow, enjoy life right now)

3. Mir-e-karwaan: another hindi song
Movie: Lucknow Central

4. Kala ghoda, pancham puriwala - iconic destinations near CST (Mumbai) the former is an art festival, the latter is a century old restaurant

5. Varan bhaat - plain boiled rice with mashed and boiled pulses (a comfort food for me)

6. Andhera hai ganna aur lahoo se sana
The darkness is deep and covered in blood..
(Song- ori chiraiya from Satyamev Jayate)