Blogging Into the Soul of a Hijra

Blogging Into the Soul of a Hijra, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

Blogger Kidnapped By The Hijras

Blogger Kidnapped By The Hijras, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

For a long time I did not meet hijras and this was on Sunday I was rushing to town to meet my photographer friend Laurent Salesse at Leopold Cafe , they were coming out of the slums and I have shot them earlier too, they just would not leave me I asked a guy to shoot a few frames after I had shot them..a few in this group are hijra impostors but hardcore men beneath the ladies attire..I am not sure about this but I was told by someone who is an authority on these beggar hijras of Mumbai..

After I left them , taking a train to Churchgate I met another group of train begging hijras.. they touched my feet asked me if I needed any help , they thought I was a holy man,..I told them I just wanted a few pictures which they obliged.

And the rest of all these pictures is at my Flickr photo stream..

Man Has Destroyed The World With His Own Hands

Man Has Destroyed The World With His Own Hands, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

on a quicksand
he stands
fucking
the natural beauty
of the world
with both hands
man was never
gods give to earth
a thought
he still does
not understand
for the unborn child
a quick death
he has planned

The Silhouette Of A Hijab

The Silhouette Of A Hijab, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

the hijab
is a home
within a home
made of cloth
makes bigots
muslim haters froth
but those wear
less to nothing
is acceptable
even those that
wear loincloth
call it narrow
mindedness
some sloth
the flame
the candle
the death wish
of a moth

a garment of modesty
victim of every wrath

Boras

Boras, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

it was
boras
that kept
us strong
in school
powered
our brains
made us
smart and cool
enjoyed
by the smart ass
the bully and the fool
our white shirt
pockets stained
beaten at home
as a rule
boras
that made girls
guys , even
the girlish boys
drool some
say it added
few inches
to the tool
measure
to measure
at the swimming pool
boras a love life
to refuel
our humped backs
our school bags
the agony of a mule
remembering all this
sitting at cafe Leopold
on a wobbly bar stool
khatta meetha
memories going
round and round
in a whirlpool

Memories of Decay

Memories of Decay, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

Within the narrow labyrinthine corridor of life the kids play
they become old adults they become gray than they sit
in a corner with a tazbi in hand watch their grand kids
relive memories they pray sad bitter memories
that wont go away slum life on display
water woes fights squabbles in may than come the rains
houses flooded all the way births deaths marriages
time passes away dreams made of paper feet
made of clay they live and they stay sometimes
the neighbors daughter with the butcher runs away
there is hell to pay or another kid caught stealing
CinemaScopic replay slum life ups downs
you cant get away the new husband of your
daughter turns out to be gay slum life is
excitement like an IPL match as you watch
where you may..colors of holi colors you spray
firecrackers on diwali day fasting idd namaz
allah be praised..till comes the builder mafia
and you house has been razed a new tower
for the neo rich who can afford it okay..
this is a brief story of mumbai and its decay
oh please bring back glory bring back bombay..

My Bare Feet

My Bare Feet, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

124,476 items / 870,486 views

between
shadows
of pain
silhouette
of sadness
my anguish
my angst
diabetic
didactic
my bare feat
my sole
downbeat
poetic
bitter and sweet
bit offbeat
a missing file
alt control delete
if not here
perhaps
in another land
another time
we shall meet
in a single
heartbeat
from
the corridors
of your consciousness
not fucked anymore
i wont have to retreat
a moment complete
a poet on heat