Tender loving care is what
we are missing today
whether from a doctor, a nurse
a spouse, friend or close relative
Everyone wants to take more
than they are willing to give
every action is preceded
by a satisfactory answer to the question-
what is in it for me?
As a way out of this pathetic maze
do we go back to the basics
or embrace understanding of new age thinking
that proclaims "We are all connected"
and that it is the feeling of separation
that sows seeds of greed and hatred!
Embracement or rejection of "Oneness"
will determine whether we survive & thrive
or sink and perish in the wilderness
whether we still qualify to be called "Human"
or doomed, to be apologies for human beings!
This poem included in the the Current International Anthology of English poems edited by Seena Srivalson was recited by me on 10 th March at the Poetry fest organised at Kodungaloor, Kerala
I am reproducing below the critical review of this poem by esteemed poet and critic Himanshu Jena in the FB group Poet Marium:-
ReplyDeleteMy Critical Review
Esteemed Rajeev Moothedath jee,
The poem, Missing Humanness is a rare testimony to reflect the precarious degradation of humanity in each and every sphere of life from home to heart. We are the rich products of material abundance ,but the worst victims of our inhuman acts. Love and care are the epitome of life divine .When love is lost, life is in utter despair and frustration leading to depression, deploration, deprivation, degradation and degeneration .The poet feels the absence of love and care in the behaviour of a doctor, a nurse, a spouse, a friend or close relative that clearly displays the state of disharmony in human relations. It's an irony of fact that each one of us is willing to extract and exploit more and more and unwilling to contribute to the cause of humanity. Every action is self -interest -based and backed by our profit motive.What I get back after my investment of money, time or mind is the top priority of today's materialistic culture. However, the poet calls for adoring the principle of Back to Basics to instill the true spirit of love and care in each and every heart for sustaining the real unity for survival of humanity, otherwise the modern march of civilization is bound to sink in catastophy of wilderness and get absorbed in the ocean of inhumanity where the human identity is a missing nomenclature and only man exists then without manliness, house stands without homely sense and trace and the earth cries without heavenly bliss. Salutations to the esteemed poet for composing such a brilliant poem on ushering the new dawn of humanity with enlightened love and care.
Copyrights all reserved
Himanshu Bhushan Jena
Reviewer, PoeMarium
13 March, 2019
This was my response to his kind initiative to give a review:-
ReplyDeleteDear esteemed poet and critic Himanshu Jenaji, I am thrilled to see that you have gone deeply into the essence of my poem and have brought out in your review everything I wanted to say! I am deeply grateful and thankful to you for your gesture and would also like to put on record my own appreciation of your critical acumen and sensibilities. Thanks and best wishes!
Could it be a cycle?
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think that's what it is. We go too far with something (good or not so good) and then we realize that there's something wrong with it and then we talk about it and go on to correcting ourselves and then we go to the extreme end of that and then the process goes on and on.
You have your point of view. Are you suggesting though that we close our eyes to what is going on around us and say it is just a cycle- the rapes, child molestation, greed and so on, will turn and good things will happen after some time?
ReplyDeleteI guess these poets are a different strange breed, who find it difficult to do this and "get on with life'. so let them be. Others can in the meanwhile enjoy life, not wasting time on the trivial....