Brown varnish faded,
A park bench
Had more memories than the visitors.

-

"Dappled sunshine on paved blocks
will forever remind me
the sunday mornings we spent together
with our hearts light and eyes bright."

-

then, the breeze smooched,
with the tittle-tattles,
waking me up
from the dream
that seemed like reality;
ah, this is rusted park bench,
steals my actuality, every time
i come here.

-

सहेजे हुए है न जाने कितनी सुनहरी यादें,
रूठने, मनाने की, उदासी की मुस्काने की।
उम्मीदों के तिनकों से नए घरौंदे बनाने की।
किसी के इंतजार में खट्टे से लम्हें गिनने की
फिर शिकायतों में बेशुमार प्यार लुटाने की।
नन्हें फूलों की महकी-सी शरारतों की गूंज,
झुर्रियों से भरे चेहरों पर निखरते सुकून की।
पार्क में रखी वो खाली बैंच, देती है गवाही,
जीवन के हर वसंत, बहार और पतझड़ की।

-

कभी वहाँ हमारी मुलाकात होती थी
वहीं हमारी धड़कने प्यार के बीज बोती थीं
वहीं हमारी आँखें सपने संजोती थीं।

क्यों ये सिलसिले कम हो गए
क्या आपने किसी और को अपना बनाया
आखिर क्यों पराये हम गए।

तेरे बिना तो पूर्णिमा में भी लगती रात काली है।
क्योंकि पार्क में रखा वो बेंच खाली है।

-

जो कुछ अविस्मरणीय यादों को आंखों के सामने ला कर रख देती है,
वो बचपन की शैतानियां और नादानियां जैसे कल ही की बात हो,
वो दोस्तों से लड़ना और फिर उनके साथ ही खेलना जैसे कल की ही बात हो,
बहुत कुछ जिंदा कर देती है इस जहन में,
पार्क में रखी वो खाली बेंच..!

-

Old Fellow
An old man sat in the park
Skin like leather and wrinkles as old as the ark
Eyes yellowed, but still with a spark
Oh what tales you could tell me old fellow
Two Wars you've been through
Has it taken it's toll on you
Are your steps still bold and true
Oh what tales you could tell me old fellow
The sea's you've sailed as a sailor boy
And the ports where you've sung the sea songs
And the girls you've kissed, white, brown and yellow
Oh what tails you could tell me your fellow
The beauty you married many years ago
Who died and left you broken hearted
No other lady could fill your sad life more
Oh what tails you could tell me old fellow
May I sit beside you and listen heartfelt
To the stories your happy to pass on
A hero in life, now you sing your swansong
Oh what tails you could tell me old fellow

Chris O'Malley

-

"I knew her as a lady who often clicks back to back selfies, on these park side benches. That road is my usual stumping point, when cycling. And one day she started smiling to me more than ever before. We then used to talk often whenever we met, and soon came the tag good friends. Now in my clean head attire, she often comes and rolls her soft hand over and says wah, muah, and says such a dignified clean head you have! She has a three year old son, who she dotes on. I had him once on my shoulders! One day she came from behind & spread her whole hair on my clean head, while I was sitting on those steel benches. For weeks I never saw her & now I came across this news, that tea shop boy said this to me. It could be the fact that her husband left for another woman or could be something else that shattered her. And me? I had no contact details of her! Maybe she preferred to leave this world quietly, maybe some are meant to disappear before we get to know them well. But two days back I saw a lady like and a boy in my dreams, sometimes I feel someone trying to put their arm around me when I sit on that bench. I think I need to know her more now" he said.

- The lost lady friend.

-

जिस पर गुज़ार ते थे
वक़्त जो अभी तक यादों में कायम है।
पर ग़म तो इस बात का है
कि हम तो बिछडे़
मगर उस बैठक का क्या था कसूर
कि उसे भी अकेला छोड़ा।

-

आज भी तेरे बिना खाली है।।।

-