Reflections: The Birth of a Poem

इक कविता का जन्म सोचते थे कैसे लोग शायरी कर लेते हैं? ऐसे ख़ूबसूरती से ख्यालों को  इतनी आसानी से  शब्दों में कैसे यूँ पिरो देते हैं... और अब ऐसा आलम है  ख़ुद बख़ुद कवितायेँ जन्म ले रहीं हैं यहाँ मन के कोनो से न जाने कैसे  फूट फूट  कर  रोज़ एक नयी नग्म  साँसे भरती है  अपने से किसी का वापिस मिल जाना  अपने वजूद को फ़िर से महसूस कर पाना  मन के जाले जब साफ़ हो जाते हैं शायद  इस नए से आईने में  अपने आप को पहचान जाते हैं  क्या यहीं से होती है शुरुआत कविताओं की? क्या नग्मे साफ़ आईने ढूंढते हैं? ख़ुद को दिखाने से पहले  आप को ख़ुद से मिला देते हैं (New Delhi, September 2, 2011)

The Birth of a Poem Always wondered How do people write poetry? Thread their thoughts into words So easily, so beautifully And now Poems seem to spring up Of their own volition From the corners of this mind I'm not sure how A new song breathes new life Each day Finding a long-lost friend Meeting yourself once again When the cobwebs of the mind Get cleared away for certain This new mirror Shows me a glimpse of myself Is this how poems take birth? Do songs seek clear mirrors? Before revealing themselves, They make sure I've met myself -Translated January 4, 2012