Nostalgia as an emotion, is deceptively innocent. In reality it is exploitative and escapist; Nostalgia is hazy sepia image of our distant past with sharp edges blunted and unpleasant details blurred. It isn't that we were any less dissatisfied back then perhaps a lot more dissatisfied than ever but the sanitized version presents a romantic picture and kicks up in us a deep urge to crave for that rainbow past. What the hell, life isn't all about cold rational assessment. There is room for spontaneous emotional outpouring and this where poetry enters our life. I have used the title "Steel ka Darakhta" largely for lack of suitable alternative for Steel. 'Faulad' is out of question, it is un-poetic and has repugnant connotation of crude sexuality, Lohaa on the other hand sounded pedestrian therefore
Steel Ka Darakhta.
Yahan aik booRHa darakhta tha,
Rassi se baNdhaa takhtaa, jhoolaa ban jaataa
Barish tham.ne par bachoN ka jhund chalaa aataa
Woh khelta, jhoolte aur jhagRte
Yahan tak ke kameezeN phat jaati.
Ab aisaa nahi hai,
Seeshe ka aalishaaN farooKh ka store hai
Bachche ab bhi aate hain aur jhagaRte hain
Par ab kameeezen nahi phat.ti, bahas hoti hai,
Baat baRH jaane par maaN baap jhagRte
Uske baad unke vakeel jirah karte haiN.
SaaNp, bichuu aur meNdhak nahi haiN
Saabun se dhule kutte haiN
Lohe ke pinjare main eK darakhta bhi hai
Woh darakhta ek dum seedha uth rahaa hai
Aur uske phool-patte shaayad geNdnumaa hoNge
Door se woh lollipop jaisa maloom hoga
Shayad sabse achche darakhta ka clone
Aik Steel ka darakhta!
Par mujhe phir bhi jane kyuN
Qudrat ka woh bedhab darakhta yaad aata hai
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