എത്ര നാൾ (How Long?)

അരങ്ങിൽ എത്ര നാൾ 

എന്നതിലുപരി 

എത്ര ഹൃദയങ്ങൾ തഴുകി, തലോടി 

എത്ര പേർക്ക് സന്തോഷം പകർന്നു 

എന്ന ചോദ്യത്തിൽ  അടങ്ങുന്നു ... 

ഒരു ജീവിത കാലത്തിൻ സാഫല്യം ! 

Translation   (Written on a prompt that translates to "Stage")

More than how long were you on stage

what matters is,  how many hearts did you touch

to how many people  did you bring happiness ?

Answers to these questions determine 

how successful a life you  have lived! 

We are all in it Together

In a Facebook literary group, a friend Sundar Rajan  posted  this picture.  He sought poems from members based on the picture. This is what I came up with ..

The schools have not opened yet. But this is written  visualizing a future scenario when we decide that we will have to live with the virus and  permit physical attendance of students at schools.

Off to school

I am the eldest

That’s me just behind papa!

 

I know, I know, social distancing

Traffic rules, other issues

Your rebuking eyes say it all !

But papa just lost his job

He can’t afford better

Feels , of public transport, the less said the better!

 

Our papa dear, is clear

Whatever the obstacles

No missing of classes!  

No compromise whatever

On school matters...

 

So here we are, off to school

Yes, Perhaps, one too many

Yet, in these tough times

We stick together

We are all in it together

Each one for one another! 

The Biggest Teacher

My inner voice is teaching me all the time 

if only I am willing to listen, pay attention

Sadly, distracted am I most of the time

Comparing the 'Now' to yesterday

'Now' to What I 'd like tomorrow

if only...

Observing the present moment as witness

is the sure fire way of learning about, attaining 

the true state of bliss, uninfluenced by the

'Good' or 'Bad' thoughts,  feelings

The biggest teacher then

is the unadulterated form of my own soul 

if only...

The Guy in the Studio

The guy in the studio of  TV news channels

ditto for the dame in the studio as well

are so detached, far removed 

from realities on the ground!  

They act superior 

even to their colleagues

reporting from ground zero 

All the hard work done by others

while the guy/dame in the studio

sit in the comfort of their nest 

bullying, browbeating, intimidating 

the ordinary mortals! 

They don't even pay attention to 

what either reporter or interviewee says 

asks questions already answered 

in the discussion on ground  

And these days whole stories

are manufactured, dramatized

and debated on studio floors

with no one having visited

studied, talked to the parties concerned! 

Many viewers mute guy/dame in studio

when they howl, shout and present picture

of a character in a cartoon! 

More of this and before long 

viewers would desert such channels 

and the guy/dame would end up

as the only ones

listening to themselves! 

Merged with the Universe

It first started with you 

the trigger

dreams of love! 

you and I- one to one 

imaginations, wild states of bliss...

Then you ceased to be one

you doubled, tripled, expanded

into this entire universe 

and I am now merged with you!   

Now or Never

The best time is now! 

Having learnt one's lessons post covid 

Let's start at the root, teach our children

right from school - to love, respect nature 

be kind to the birds, bees,  flora and fauna

Get them to plant a tree at home

many at school,with each child 

tending his/her plant with love & care 

Read out to them Wordsworth 

for pleasure and inspiration 

teach them the value of coexistence 

of  embracing nature as a natural routine 

a day to day affair, part of life...

There wouldn't  then be

need for environment day celebrations

a ceremonial event once in a year!    

The Wheel of Time

If you go down the history lane 

you will see that in 6th century BC

long before the arrival of other religions  

Buddhism and Jainism emerged

as offshoots, as answers

to the degeneration of Hinduism

Decadence to complex rituals

animal and human sacrifices 

deviating far away from the 'real' essence 

of the true Sanatana Dharma! 

It took the great Shankaracharya

to revive and restore religion

through the 'path of knowledge'

debates and discussions

the Gnana Marga... 

The two Indian religions 

particularly Buddhism traveled far and wide 

gained big following and interest world over 

though  almost extinct in place of its birth! 

Time has perhaps come 

to revisit great tenets of Buddhism & Jainism

since change and rejuvenation

as answer to degeneration is natural 

 It is the law of nature! 

Birthday Greetings to a Daughter

On this day dear Niranjana

as you celebrate birthday so far away 

l share thoughts that come

spontaneously to mind.. 

You stepped in to family a little later

yet stole all our hearts- 

became daughter from daughter in law

easily, effortlessly, just by being

your sweet natured self! 

Years ago, my wife and I

newly wed, speculated

about our first born

both wished for a girl

a sweet little Lakshmi

harbinger of abundance

in so many ways! 

And years later, there you were

appearing as spouse of our first born! 

bringing in all the good things 

we had longed for...

Parents are happy simply 

seeing their children happy

Manas and you have so many

common interests- food, travel, cooking 

Such a joy seeing you together! 

May you dear daughter have a great birthday

today and in the years to come

and a life of meaning and purpose

of happiness, peace, abundance

abundance in all areas of life!   

NB:There were two birthdays at our home in the month of June  almost back to back- Younger son Tarun's on the 10th and elder son Manas's spouse Niranjana's on 12th June. I presented a poem as gift to Tarun. This is my present to Niranjana .   

A Birthday during Lockdown

We normally celebrate our family birthdays at home sharing  little gifts laced with love. This time I gave my younger son Tarun  this poem as gift. 

Small gifts of affection 

I can't give you this birthday

instead son, my gift today is this little poem 

to tell you everything I wanted to say

but never did all these years..

what is it that I have noticed

about you from close quarters

in all this time? over the years... 

That you have grown from being Mama's boy

from echoing her thoughts and wishes

to a young man who knows his own mind! 

More importantly, one whose

heart is in the right place! 

standing up for what is right, not compromising

in doing what you think is right!  

Another aspect is your reluctance to hurt

displease people, preferring to take them along 

even when not agreeing with them all the time

No wonder then, you have so many friends 

an easy laugh, sense of humour 

all of which come handy in a high pressure job too!

 

So, what do I wish for you son

as you move ahead in the journey? 

I wish that you continue to be kind, patient

forthright without being a bull in a China shop

That you give and receive lots of love 

be happy, peaceful, successful

not merely in the worldly sense

but success attuned to the divine plan of your life!  

NB: Happy birthday Son! Many many happy returns of the day!  

Winner (Prose- Poetry Challenge)

I participated in a Face Book literary group's call from members  to write prose and poetry on the same subject. The exercise seemingly was to clearly distinguish the differences between the two. 

The organizers  stated that "Prose is more like a message quite uncomplicated, even natural, without pretense and ambiguity." Poetry, according to them "on the other hand is very expressive. It is not straight forward,there is a lot to be implied, left to the interpretation of the reader" A subtle hint was there in the write up  that poetry was superior. 

I took part in the challenge for the fun of it and may not engage in any such exercise in the future. I choose my mode of communication depending on the need and the mood. I do not subscribe to what to my mind is 'Artificial discrimination', given the fact that these days prose poetry is written and accepted. For this exercise I only had to write the prose version as the poem was written and published in this blog sometime in 2015.  

Winner   (Prose)   

Raju, all of seven years was a darling not only of his parents and extended family but of his teachers and friends at school. He was such a bubbly kid, always smiling and so full of life! Last Thursday he took part in a singing competition at school. He was delighted  to win the second prize! His class teacher hugged and kissed him. Friends came up and congratulated him. He felt so very happy. 

 Although the event happened in the forenoon, he was not able to enjoy the food at lunch time. He was excited about going home and telling mom the great news! Soon after school, he ran to the auto to be the first one, all ready to go! As soon as Raju reached home, he rushed to the living room. “Amma, I have won the second prize in singing competition!”,  he announced proudly. Radha was engaged in knitting a sweater. She did not look up but simply said “But how did you miss the first prize son? You sing so well.”

 Raju went to his room hiding his disappointment. Next time, he would tell Amma only if he won a first prize. The whole day he was feeling happy and proud as a winner.  Now, he no longer felt like a ‘winner’. 

Winner  (Poetry)   

Little Raju ran excitedly

to his mother

his little face beaming

with happiness and pride!

 "I won the second prize

For singing Ma!”

“Ok, ok, but why not the first prize? 

how did you miss that?"

 

His smile disappeared instantly

He was no longer feeling

A winner…    

Devotion

Love, a continuum

with hate at one end 

and all encompassing divinity at the other

This is why some make huge sacrifices

while others throw acid on their 'Beloved'

all in the name of Love!  

Happy Times

In a Facebook literary group, a friend posted a picture of a child going to school with a dog in his bag. He sought poems from members based on the picture. This is what I came up with on the spur of the moment...

Hey, I can now attend  classes  (online)

With little Tommy by my side

No teacher to scold me, cane me

Or tell me what I may do

 Last time I took Tommy

Hiding him in my bag

Class teacher caned me

And poor little Tommy too!

 

Then on, I count time

for the last bell at school

And scramble home each day

to play with pal Tommy

oh, I missed him such a lot!

 

But, from now on, all learning

Will be with Tommy by my side

Teacher, you can scowl on..

As much as you please

I am safely tucked away

Where your painful cane can’t reach! 

 Hey, it’s happy times!    

Light

The moon and the stars
so pretty, captivating, mesmerizing!
yet, they live on borrowed light

For my needs of light and warmth
I am going straight to the source
to the magnificent Sun!

To not only feel him on the physical body
but invoke light and bliss
deep within my heart...