Let me not run away like a coward

            

                          

                      

1.    Let me not run away like a coward

From challenges of daily life

None is free from problems and strife

To reach one’s goal we have to struggle hard

Life is not a silver platter with bounteous gifts

Life involves so many patch-ups and rifts.

 

2.    Life is a precious chance to gain

So many experiences and lessons to learn

To face bouquets and bricks and sudden turns

A mysterious journey with pleasures and pain.

Be not under the illusion that life is smooth and fair

Each step you have to tread with utmost care;

Once done, you cannot go back to mend

Life is a complex maze with uncertain bends.

 

3.    Failures are stepping stones to success

Winning and losing, a part of game

Bear whatever happens; none you should blame;

Learn lessons from life’s events, an astounding mess;

Find the essence of life—not mere pleasure and plight;

Examine your shortcomings and set them right

 Some purpose behind everything; no grief or despair.

Accept whatever comes with judgement fair. 

 

4.    Do not judge others with your prejudiced view

Your actions and words you have to guard

Hatred, envy and anger you have to discard

 Understand others and adjust with changes new

 Let go your pride and evil thoughts

 In spite of failures, don’t lose heart

 Life is a precious gift of God, a priceless treasure

 Life is not just passing time with trivial pleasures.

 

5.    Appreciate and encourage others' creative skills

Be not jealous and depressed, and do not worry

Be not hasty, but be cool and not to hurry

Do not deviate from your goal, be steady and still

Don’t harm others, control yourself and your mind

Share affection with all and be helpful and kind.

Even if you lose, lose not your hope and cheer

Stray not from your goal and vision clear.

 

6.    You have to solve yourself; life is a puzzle

Others may advise and guide, but you have to tread

On your life’s path without confusion and dread;

You have to unfold and charter your way and tussle

No simple shortcuts: in idle ways your time don’t spend.

On your own experiences, you have to depend

Life is a gradual evolution of man planned by God

Don’t treat life’s challenges lightly; be on your guard.

                   *********************

31st August 2025           Somaseshu Gutala

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Web of Passions

                

                

                                                   

 1. Caught in the web of passions six

    Man loses control over his actions and thoughts

    The goal of his life and mental peace he lost

    On noble reflections, attention he cannot fix

    Wherever we see, sheer violence we find;

    The poisonous offshoots of an angry mind

    Man degrades himself to brutal level

    Letting loose destruction, a veritable hell.

 

2.        On earthly level so many wars happen

    Killing innocent people in largest measure

    To show off their power with devilish pleasure

    Using dreadful weapons—no regard for lives of men;

    A universal disaster with no future vision

    Unleashing terror and terrific destruction;

    All this, out of anger and lust for power

   They think their ways as just and clever.

 

3.        For temporary gains they act lacking vision

    They never care for peace and sober means

    They pollute others’ minds and cause violent scenes

    They make others suffer and distort facts

    They think whatever they do as perfect

    For selfish gain, they create factions, feuds and sects;

    They plunge the world into restless state

    They think themselves great, others they dictate.

 

4.        The play of passions lead to enormous loss

    Of life and culture and brutalizes all

    Despite supreme skills, it leads to downfall

    Without discrimination, he violates Nature’s laws

    With no common sense, man dooms himself to death

    Wasting his knowledge just for power and wealth

    Too much knowledge and power leads to gross abuse

    His wellbeing and safety, he would not choose.

 

5.        He becomes an easy victim to the web of passions

    The whole world plunges itself into delusion

    A slave to passions he leads a life of confusion

    He loses his balance and discrimination

    What use his inventions and his knowledge vast?

    He dooms himself and surroundings pure

    Only peace, and welfare of all-the universal cure.

                       **********************

Note: Passions six: Lust, anger, greed, delusion, pride and jealousy.

    10th August 2025                                  Somaseshu Gutala

 

 

    

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

The Eternal Artist

 

                        

                

 

                                   

 1.            The potter molds the pot on the whirling wheel

To shape the dream of his beautiful art;

The wheel goes on turning on and on to reveal

His dream in lively form of ideal pot; 

Some are queer in shape, and some, not burnt well

The potter still strives after the magic spell

Till he molds his dream concrete and clear

Till he reaches perfection almost near.

 

2.    The weaver weaves his visions in various designs

Intertwining various colors in patterns bright

The fabric seems not so striking and fine

Lacking in perfect texture and attractive to sight

He tries his hand to find new picturesque forms

Interblending colors of Nature cool and calm

Unruffled he works on his loom with renewed zeal

To imprint his concept of fabric with soft silken feel. 

 

3.    The jeweler untiringly works with sharp, keen sight

Polishing and cutting the sparkling stone

Reflecting the light in myriad ways bright

Through magnifying lens, undisturbed and alone

He strives and strains to get perfect polish to get

He never stops though his aching muscles hurt

A dazzling diamond he strives to gain

Hoping his efforts never go in vain.

 

4.    The painter puts all his efforts to draw

The picture of his colorful thoughts

He tries to mend and never tolerates flaws

He puts his heart and soul to perfect his art

Though he falters often he will not rest

Still, he paints his thoughts and strives his best

Through his consummate art, he feels himself content

Unexhausted so many tireless hours he spent. 

 

5.   God makes and unmakes everything in Nature

So many changes and alterations, behold! 

In creation we find and so many features

Nature refurbishes herself, new and bold

God plays ever in many mysterious ways

Towards perfection His eternal art and play

Even earthly beings evolve within their range

Follow his ways to some extent, unique and strange.

                      ********************

10th August 2025                    Somaseshu Gutala

 

 

First Be Human

 

                           

                             

                                            

 1.             First be human; whatever duty you perform

A rare opportunity God gave to thee;

A noble profession is yours; don’t harm

Others; gladden their hearts with hope and glee;

Alleviate their sufferings and fill their hearts

With relief, hope and positive thoughts;

As a doctor breathe new life and zeal;

Don’t stray from your duty; understand how they feel;

 

2.    Listen to their sufferings with patience and not hurry

 Your assuring words make them happy with ease;

With money-minded outlook, make them not worry

Scribble not a list of costly drugs, please

No intimidating list of superfluous tests

Treat them with compassion, not for your commissions;

See how they feel happy when you treat them with love

They look upon you divine sent from heavens above. 

 

3.    Take care of your prescriptions and write

For patients’ understanding,in clear letters bold

Don’t scribble in hurry, think of patient’s plight

Your words, incomprehensible as Indus script old

Sometimes may be misunderstand of what you say

Can’t you spare a few seconds to write in a clear way?

Think of consequences of how you treat

You deal with precious lives; be patient and discreet.

 

4.    Be not obsessed with craze for earning wealth

Let them not spend too much on medicines and tests

Just to get commissions spoil not their health

Of those who trust your precious advice;

Focus on curing patients and lessen their pain

Let them not waste money just for your selfish gain.

 

5.    Whatever work you do, be human first

Treat them as you wish others do to thee;

Craze for wealth is an insatiable thirst

Degrades your moral status, you see;

Do justice to your duty; bear in mind

As a doctor--be human, liberal and kind;

Our worldly possessions will turn to dust.

Service to men is service to God you should trust.

             ************************

        30th July 2025                   Somaseshu Gutala

 

Skeletons in the Cupboard

                

           

                  

   1.      Behind this fair appearance we find

A frame work of bones which we often ignore;

A miraculous creation with an intelligent mind

Of our thoughts and action reflexes, a vast store

Of what we are, and decides our future state

From tiny seeds to gigantic trees--- named as our fate.

 

2.           We assert our achievements with egoistic pride

Often with exaggeration of our sublime state;

We often turn blind to our feeble flipside

We often attribute our flaws to cruel fate

We defend our flaws and misdeeds with defiant will

We often think ourselves as victims still.

 

3.          Though we guard ourselves with utmost care

       We can’t escape from our conscience deep

       The impact of our vices and virtues will never spare

Whatever we have sown, same crops we reap 

Like swift running bloodhounds, they chase us fast

Even after death they pursue till we are caught.

 

4.          We can’t keep skeletons in our cupboards so long

        The rotten smell comes out at some time or other

        Our hidden thoughts, hasty acts and wrongs

In waking or dreams-- our guilt disrupts and bothers

Till we realize and feel repentant of our guiles

All other attempts to hide them remain futile.

 

 

5.         We can’t retrieve whatever we have done

       Though we can’t know the ways of destiny strange;

       Surrendering to God with sincere desire to change

       And accept our misdeeds, foibles and faults  

       Gives relief and ease if we truly repent

       And try to rectify our faults to some extent.

 

6.         We can’t deceive everyone with an innocent face

       The rattle of bones pursue us from within

       Reprimanding us to correct our crooked ways;

       We should accept our faults and acts of sin

       Be ready to face the ordeals set before

       Feel the pangs of guilt upto the deepest core.

                 ************************

Note ; Skeletons in the cupboard-- an idiomatic phrase

           which means to keep a secret undisclosed. 

    23rd July 2025                     Somaseshu Gutala