Hell And Heaven

                     

                         

1)        I found myself in the darkest hell

   Where brutal violence asserts its power supreme

   Where power and wealth wield their evil spell

   Where corruption reaches its level supreme

   No sense of morality there one can find

   Only crooked vile thoughts and acts unkind.

 

2)        Where innocents are victimized by might

    Where murders and rapes a common sight

    Where people struggle for bread day and night

    In cruel pastimes where people find delight

    Where vices rule people without any restraint

    Where deceit dons the mask of holy saint.

 

3)        Where suffering lot in silence remain

    Where none cares to assuage others in pain

    Where victims are treated with callous disdain

    Where none against injustice dares to complain

    Where weakest justice drags at slowest pace

    Where people’s woes are met with callous disgrace.

 

4)         Where power conspires with greed and narrow creeds

     Where nature is despoiled for selfish gains

     Where industries pollution rampant breed

     Where people struggle in slums with stress and strain

     Where cities grew like weeds with no control

     Encroaching every inch with no vision or goal.

 

5.)      Where women are tortured by drunken brutes

          Where poor persons are deprived of their rights

          Where tradition turns men blind and mute

          Where men by wayside spend miserable nights;

          Where wars are fought with devastation vast

          Where dire diseases rage and lives are lost.

 

6)         A glimpse of heaven I find in baby’s sleeping smiles 

    A glimpse of heaven in lover’s welcoming gaze

    A glimpse of heaven in shining sylvan isle  

    A glimpse of heaven in poet’s inspiring page;

    A glimpse of heaven in and God’s guiding grace

    A glimpse of heaven in dawn’s blooming rays.

 

7)        A glimpse of heaven in men that strive with zeal

    To comfort people in distress with selfless service

    A glimpse of heaven in mother’s affection I feel

    A glimpse of heaven in lakes, vales and trees

    A glimpse of heaven in farmers who work in farms

    A glimpse of heaven in soldiers' patriotic arms.

 

8)        Where people serve with love and liberal mind

    Where people move free with no sense of fear

    Where birds and beasts are cared with feelings kind

    Where lakes and rivers are made clean and crystal clear

    Where trees and plants are nourished with loving care.

    Where rulers strive selfless for social welfare.

 

9)         Where men live with no prejudice and pride

     With no barriers of sex, colour, creed and race

     Where morals are deemed as esteemed guide

     Where people live in peace, and not in crazy race

     Where people are not enslaved to lifeless tools

     Wasting their lives in idle pursuits like fools. 

 

10       Where due value is given to humanizing arts

     Where people waste not wealth and precious days

     Where people respect time-honoured rural crafts

     Where people choose to live in simple, natural days

     Where people try to live in harmonious state

      Without envy and mutual destructive hate.

 

11        Where religions teach universal love

     Where nations realize wars as waste and vile

     Where all live like multi-coloured rain-bow;

     Where all support victims and make them smile

     Where all prefer to live with contented glee

     Where all keep nature pure and pollution-free.

 

  12)    A glimpse of hell and heaven here we see

      In our own lives and world around  

      The pangs of violence, tensions and jealousy   

      Revenge, destruction and anger profound

      Far worse than hellish fires of mythical lore

      Pure love and mercy make us feel the heavenly core. 

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

    8th February, 2021                     Somaseshu Gutala