Pakeezah (1972)

On Pakeezah


The train

She cut my wings
to put me in a cage
and tied my legs with anklets.
But i just wanted to run
in the noiseless hour of dawn
after the snake-like train
back to the night of rain
telling myself, i won’t sleep —
this time i’ll keep my eyes open for him.

O stranger,
you took me away from me
My joy, please do not abandon me
It’s not you, it’s the train
which brings back my pain
with even more intensity
than my poetry.

March 16, ‘09

II

she kissed my feathers
before plucking them
out of my skin
i couldn't even cry
the hissing whistles
from the smoky screen
anesthetized me
that monstrous train
that devil took away from me
this pain of my anklets
they bleed my soul
my feet,
my feet
they seek your gaze
they yearn, they play
for a foolish flirt
this aching heart
this living dead

March 17, 09