Don't Step Out!

In childhood summer days

My grandpa used to warn:

‘My child don’t step out
In the garden in night!

There is a snake chasing rats.’

In school days family doctor used to

Warn mama: Don’t step out

In the street or go to school! for a week.

The plague is spreading like a deranged man’s rage.’

Our Kashmiri gardener

Warns his young daughter:

‘Don’t venture out in the street.

A red-eyed wild soldier,

Drunk and intense,

Is stomping our street

His bayonet erect!’

Now my grandson returns

Early from his school and whispers soft:

‘School is closed. Let us not venture out

In mosque or  mall

Bus or cinema hall.

There is a bomb scare.

No one know what type and size.’

A hill station hotel manager suddenly regrets:

‘For two days no sight seeing, sir.

All roads are blocked for security reasons!

The President and her family and friends

Have arrived for holidays!’

M. Hasan

Ajmer, September 19, 2011

SILENCE ZONE

Silence Zone :I

This is a ‘Silence Zone!

Horns and loudspeakers strictly prohibited’,

Warns a loud expensive sign board of

Police Station on the Indian Parliament Street.

 

Silence Zone :II

Rajasthan police stations greet

With their confidence-oozing

Blood red department motto

Declaring at their iron gates:

‘Trust among common men!

Fear among criminals!’

Silence Zone: III

A small brass plaque,

Daily deftly massaged,

Each word glistens

As  tiger’s canine teeth,

On station house officer’s dark table,

And underneath

Steely horse-shoe heeled black boots

Tapping hard on stone floor,

Assuring visitors,

Some smiling, most sobbing:

‘Buck Stops Here!’

M. Hasan

Jaipur, December 1, 2010

Mosque Wall

 

They made me share

My wall with a mosque,

Saying to comfort, ‘you are fortunate

You are close to God.’

So I share my wall with a mosque

But neither my world nor my God

In that mosque.

Wife cajoles

I pray in the mosque

Where I am regularly told:

‘Pray five times a day

It will handsomely pay.’

Further, I am advised:

‘Give zakat and alms,

Fast every Ramadhan

And speak the truth.’

So truth I shall tell:

I don’t share my world and God

With those who pray in the mosque.

How can I share with them

When my wall keeps me apart

From those who just pray in the mosque?

My God says grow more trees.

Keep thy neighbourhood clean

And in harmony and pious peace.

I am whispered: I need not come to the mosque

To throw some coins

In full public gaze

On wrinkled, twisted open palms

And tattered spread scarves

Of veiled deserted, destitute women

Toddlers pasted on their hollow busts.

‘Go to their homes,’

In whispering voice

I am gently told.

‘Save them their long

Journey to the mosque.’

My God says

Break the wall

Not of the mosque

But between those

Who religiously pray

five times a day in mosques

In green and black headgears

Combing well oiled beards.

And donate for granite stones

Where people slip from truth

And what is being from pulpit told.

M. Hasan

Summer, 2010 Jodhpur