## Playground of Words #Poetry ![[Pub-Chitra-Studio-Bazeecha.webp]] *[[Bazeecha|Chitra Studio, 2014]]* बच्चा जब तक बोलना नहीं सीखता उसके अंदर कितने शब्द क़ैद में रहते हैं फड़फड़ाते रहते हैं... लेकिन बाहर नहीं निकलते फिर वो सीख लेता है शब्दों के छींटें दुनिया के मुँह पर मारना और डरी हुई दुनिया उसे सिखा देती है सधी हुई भाषा और थोड़ा सा तमाशा उम्र बढ़ती जाती है और शब्द या तो पालतू हो जाते हैं या फिर हथकड़ियाँ लगाकर सलाखों के पीछे पहुँचा दिए जाते हैं और इसके बाद... चीखें आत्मा से गले तक पहुंचती हैं... लेकिन गले से निकलती नहीं अंदर ही अंदर गूंजती है बस एक दरवाज़ा खोलना है किसी दिन सारे शब्द, मैदान में बच्चों की तरह खेलने लगेंगे   Before a child learns to speak, how many words live inside him, fluttering against the walls, waiting for a way out. Then he learns to splash words fearlessly on the face of the world. And the frightened world teaches him measured language, proper pauses, and a little performance. As he grows older, words either become pets, or are handcuffed and sent behind bars. After that, screams travel from the soul to the throat, but never cross it. They keep echoing inside. One day, only one door has to open. All those imprisoned words will run out and begin to play like children in a field. ##### Context Note This poem explores how language changes from childhood to adulthood. A child begins with countless unspoken words, alive with instinct and freedom, but the world slowly teaches restraint, performance, and acceptable speech. Over time, words are either tamed or imprisoned, until even the soul's cries remain trapped inside. At its heart, the poem longs for that one moment of release when all those captive words can return to the field and play like children again. 2016-07-31 %% The artwork is drawn on an iPad Air, App – Paper by 53, Drawing tool – Pencil stylus by 53. %%