Yah Boodha Ho Jaana Kya Hai

boodha ho jaana kya hai?
kya yah prapatr kee mahima khona hai,
aankh kee chamak?
kya saundary ke lie use pushpaanjali chhod dena hai?
haan, lekin akele isake lie nahin.

kya yah hamaaree taakat mahasoos karata hai-
nahin hamaare khil, lekin hamaaree taakat-kshay?
kya yah pratyek ang ko mahasoos karana hai?
kathor ho jao, har samaaroh kam sateek,
pratyek tantrika aur adhik durbalata se ghire hue hain?

haan, yah, aur adhik! lekin nahin,
aah, kya nahin yuvaon mein ham sapana dekha ho sakata hai!
hamaara jeevan nahin hai
sooryaast-chamak ke saath madhur aur naram,
ek sunahara din giraavat!

duniya ko nahin dekhana
ek oonchaee se, bhavishyavaanee kee aankhon ke saath,
aur hrday ne gaharaee se hadakamp mach gaya;
rone aur ateet kee paripoornata mahasoos karate hain,
aise varshon jo ab aur nahin hain!

yah lamba din bitaana hai
aur ek baar aisa nahin lagata hai ki ham kabhee bhee yuva the.
yah jodana, abaadhit hona hai
vartamaan, maheen kee garm jel mein
thake hue dard ke saath maheene

yah peedit hai,
aur lagata hai ki aadha aur kamajor hai, ham kya mahasoos karate hain:
hamaare chhipa dil mein deep
ek badalaav kee sust smaran rakhata hai,
lekin koee bhaavana nahin-koee nahin

yah sab-antim charan hai-
jab ham andar sthir ho jaate hain, aur kaaphee
khud ka pret,
duniya ko sunane ke lie khokhale bhoot kee saraahana karate hain
kisane jeevit vyakti ko doshee thaharaaya?