ON PLUCKING FLOWERS AT DAWN

 

                    

                                          

                  

                  

 1.        In darkness brisk moving shadows are seen

          Hiding behind and moving with cautious pace

          As if participating in slow-moving race

          Plucking flowers at dawn behind groves green;

          A daily morning ritual for them to get

          As many flowers as they get fresh and dew-wet;

          The more flowers, the more merit they trust

          Worshipping God with flowers is a must.

 

2        Moving from house-to-house flowers they pluck

          Of different fragrance and different hues

          To satisfy gods, who cherish and choose;

          They think of others as rivals who pluck            

          Flowers before them in early morning hours;

          A tough competition among them for flowers

          They assume their stealthy act not as a sin

          But an act of devotion for God’s grace to win.

 

 

3     By offering flowers they please Gods a lot

       By external rituals and rites mere

       For God’s sake what they do, they need not fear

       Not as plunder, but done with a pious thought

       What they do is not a sin as they deem;

       Done with good purpose is not wrong, it seems 

       What will the owners lose, they argue

       By their act of plucking flowers, a few.

 

4    Many think that God’s grace they could win

      By offering gifts, precious gems and gold;

      God likes simple things as in legends told; 

      But they forgot to give the real blossom within

      A thousand-petalled lotus effulgent and bright

     Of pure love, iridescent and shining light;

     God expects selfless, simple devotion in fact

     Not showy gifts but worship with a pure heart.
 

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

    13th January 2026                     Somaseshu Gutala

    

   

 

 

     

 

        

       

         

         

 

      

On my Stay at “Paradigm Sarovar”, Kakinada

                        

                                                                             

Superior Room

 

Sarovar Deluxe Room

                              

Sarovar restaurant "City View"

      

                   

Sarovar banquet hall

        

This hotel is located on the main road near Tirumala Theater in Kakinada. It is a three-Star hotel centrally located (2.5 kms from railway station and 1km from Bus stand.) and is convenient for tourists to go to pilgrimage centers like Pithapuram, Annavaram and Drasksharamam. It has 58 rooms on six floors and on the seventh floor there is a bar “Paradigm Sarovar Portico” which offers a wide range of cocktails, wines, mocktails and snacks to guests.  The hotel has many amenities like free Wi-Fi, multi-cuisine restaurant (“City View”), Coffee shop, room service for 24 hours, laundry service, airport transfer, and  a banquet hall for 150 people. In the restaurant, South Indian, North Indian dishes along with Intercontinental dishes like burghers, sandwiches, wraps, noodles, fruit juices and other beverages are offered with buffet and a la carte options.   There are three types of rooms; Superior, Deluxe and suits. For extra person, they will charge Rs.1000/- per day. Generally, for customers there is complementary breakfast. There is a shuttle service if the customers wish to see local places.  Take away breakfast facility is there for those who wish to check out early from here. The check in and check out timings are from 12.00 p.m. and 12.00 p.m.(noon). The room service is very prompt and neatness is superb. The reception staff are very courteous and helpful. In some of the rooms the regulator switch for ceiling fans is not working. Such minor issues may be resolved as some of the customers may face health issues to sleep with ceiling fan rotating at full speed.  Otherwise, this hotel provides a very comfortable and enjoyable stay. The nearby tourist places and temples are:Kakinada beach (12 kms), Kukkuteswara Swamy temple (19 kms), Coringa Wildlife sanctuary(18kms), Kumararamam(15kms), Kodanda Rama temple in Gollala Mamidala(22kms), and Sarpavaram (8 kms) etc. Other pilgrimage centers are: Pithapuram20kms), Annavaram (48kms), Ainavilli(60 kms) and Drakasharamam(29 kms). The hotel tariff generally ranges from Rs.3400 to 4200/- This hotel is quite convenient and comfortable for tourists with all modern facilities.

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

            7th January 2026                   Somaseshu Gutala

FAILURE IS MY FRIEND

                

                  

                                                (I)      

                 Failure is my friend; she made me mend

My mind and my overweening pride

She set right my lazy habits and set aside

My overconfidence, and her help she did extend

To make me aware of my faults and comprehend

The means to find my goal and pave my way;

With her timely warning she led me not to stray

She has unbuilt my castles in the air

And taught me how to think just and fair.

                          (II)

Though she blasted my foolish hopes unfair

She made me see and earnestly think

In practical ways and bent my ego, and not to sink

She pulled me out of the tidal seas of despair

And vain wandering illusions and affairs

She gave me courage and stand steadfast

Against perils of life without failing myself lost

She strengthened my heart hard and bold

And not to become frustrated and cold.    

                        (III)         

Failures are steppingstones to success

They are a part and parcel of life

They teach us necessary strength and strife.

And how to stay steady in difficult circumstances

And not to lose heart and react in excess;

Know your abilities and try not to fly too high

You get what you deserve; be patient, try and try

Failures and success are speed-breakers, a part

Of our lives; be content with what you have got.

                             (IV)

No use of blaming God and your fate

Control your feelings; think not what you have lost;

In crooked ways and feelings, do not get caught

Do not give scope to hatred, revenge and hate

Without earnest efforts you can’t better your state

Seasons change and Nature looks weird and worn

Will she complain of what she lost and did mourn

Your fate is yourself, your own creation

Of your acts, you can’t prevent or shun.

         xxx******************xxx

 

  30th December 2025          Somaseshu Gutala 

 

 

 

A Funny Tale of a Crazy Couple

                         

                         

                 

1        Jacob worked once as a librarian for forty years

        Full forty years he spent in a dust-ridden cell cold

        Surrounded by so many books and journals old

        He spent his time sitting silently in a nook

        Accustomed to musty smell of old bulky books

        He had not read them nor even had a look

        He dozed off so many years in dismal silence

        Now he is retired, but felt no difference.

 

2       His wife Jane an ambitious woman and wise

Found her husband did nothing but sleep day and night

He is too dull and unresponsive to know about his plight

Whatever he did seemed to her vain and imprecise

She could not bear his lazy and idle presence

He is a good-for-nothing bloke lacking common sense

She scanned his every act with ten thousand eyes

Faulting his every move like a spy in disguise.

 

3       If he stands still and views with vacant looks 

She shouts, “Why do you stand like a stone?

If he sits and looks at stars alone

She shouts, “why do you sit like a duck in the nook;

Whatever he mumbles, she never cares to hear

Too much used to her harsh words, he tried not to clear

Her doubts; his stubborn silence provoked her more

Stone deaf to her abuse he remained as before.

 

4       Very rarely he engaged himself in verbal fight

With his spouse but could not get success;

Before her sharp-piercing volley of curses

Which cut into his heart and made him retreat with fright

But both their lives are welded together and now

They can’t escape whether they hate or love

Fixed like the legs of a measuring compass;

They have to bear with each other, gain or loss.

 

5       Like a panther hiding behind, with stretched claws

Looking for a chance she used to watch and wait;

Or like a fisherman waiting for his catch with his bait

Ever ready to pounce on him to pick out his flaws

He too waited like a confounded hare to escape

With shy smiles, to keep himself in good shape;

As she did not hesitate to dress him down

To save his status he kept mum and did not frown. 

 

6       Others derived delight by their dramatic fight

A merry comic scene for them without expense;

Lack of understanding and mutual trust made them tense

They did not know how they lost their image bright

Lack of communication skills and mutual respect

Made them too critical, fault-finding and suspect

The crazy couple never thought how they lost

Their respect when they cursed without forethought.

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

  17th December 2025                      Somaseshu Gutala

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                    

Starting Point

 

         

1                       Even after so many years we are far away

To reach our goal; no progress at all

Still, we rise and fall and often we fall

We have not started, we have not found our way

We felt puzzled and do not know where we stand

Years slid away fast like fine grains of sand

Our world-obsessed mind with stress and strain

Our worthless worries, our stamina drain.

 

2                      We are moving in circles; we come back

To the point from where our journey began;

We struggle here and there and lack vision and plan

Though we spent many years, initiative we lack

Our words are high; our minds, too weak to ransack

And choose the proper means to track our progress

No change in our attitude; we transgress

The bounds of conscience; but like beasts we stray

Roaming aimlessly around against what we say.

3                      What our destiny will be, we do not know

Let us not fret about what we will get

Though slow our progress, let us not get upset

Though we may not rise high, we get what we sow

Like glowworms flicker in night with feeble glow

God guides our ways; let us believe in His grace

He who leads millions of stars in limitless space;

One step forward, God will give you a gigantic leap

Worry not about future, too obscure and deep.

 

4                       Though our ways differ, our destination same

From different points our journey we start

With different attitudes and thoughts

In this vast creation we are like toys in a game

Life’s sudden turns and twists we should not blame

Vex not about our far away uncertain ends

On earnest will and steps, our future depends

If you falter and too many mistakes you make

To set right them, too many lives you have to take.

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

   7th December 2025            Somaseshu Gutala 

 

 

 

To my Relative

                                                         

                 

              

            Ever active and dynamic you are

            Wherever you go, you spread joy like a star;

            Never you feel tired endowed with skills

            You move gracefully like mountain rill;

            Despite hard work you enjoy and make others too

            Happy; you show keen interest in whatever you do;

            You decorate your home with skills supreme

            So beautiful like a fairy’s enchanting dream;

            Even with antique objects that found your favor

            To give an antique touch to your home décor;

            You love to travel with friends to scenic spots

            To view and come out with new thoughts.

            Your presence itself creates a festive charm

            Even pets you love a lot and do them no harm.

            A synthesis of tradition and modern trends

            In you I find an artistic, harmonious blend;

            Always willing to help others with a generous heart

            Always ready to share with others whatever you got;

            You stand firm on your morals and will not permit

            Others to intrude but keep them within their limits.

            Not like gentle spring cool and climate calm

            But you rush like a mighty turbulent storm

            With thunderous joy and lightning surprise

            Laughing and talking loud, everyone you mesmerize.

           With scintillating mirth and sparkling wit, you win

           The hearts of all; none can surpass you in

           Being generous, helpful, happy and kind.

           These are some of my thoughts that came to my mind

           About you; I conclude my commendatory lines

           Wishing you a happy life and a bright future fine.

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

                       

     30-11-2025                             Somaseshu Gutala

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                

OLD IS GOLD ?

 

                                                       

1.    All their responsibilities over; now they are old

So many years went fast with so many events

Of shocking surprises and smashing blows they spent;

Now they are idle, all their acts remain as memories dim

A rich tapestry of experiences manifold

Reveals their dark shades as well as their decisions bold;

Lingering dreams both hilarious and grim

Each thing, a rich mine of their feelings unfolds

Closely linked to their things though worn and old.

 

2.    Though of no use they tend to store articles old

Safely hidden in the lumber room or in the loft

To let them go rusting or gathering dust a lot

Their minds swell with pride whenever they behold

The relics of their past which they feel as precious as gold

Each item and article, a rich heritage reveals

Going back to many generations they feel

Their eyes become dim with tears when they recall

Their ancestors, their hard toil, uprise and their downfall.

 

3.    The tiled tiny houses old wherein they dwell

Were built in old fashion with tiny windows and doors

With tiled sloping roofs and rugged stone-floors

With spacious backyards and gloomy cells;

Appear morose, lonely with lost glory casting a tragic spell

Yet still survive weather-beaten with corridors long

They seem to resist decay and survive still strong

Though for others out of date, worthless and not so cute

Like ruined temples with broken sculptures mute.

 

4.    They stack their old books in cupboards in rows neat

Which they esteem as a valuable treasure

To them a source of knowledge and immense pleasure

But now gathered dust and verily a sumptuous feast

To silver fish; a rich heritage which they can not to forfeit;

The present generation finds no time or patience to read

Those bulky volumes, repositories of wisdom indeed

The present digital age people cannot not spare

So much space for these leather-bound collections rare.

 

5.    Their world seems out of date with articles old

Yet the elders would not like suddenly to part;

They are part of their lives very near to their hearts

They touch them as if they are worth precious gold

And praise them as strong, durable and not to be sold

The old T.V. fridge, brass vessels and pots

All obsolete things bought once at throw away cost

Each thing has a history and feelings of its own

They don’t like their old things as junk to be thrown.

 

6.    They may seem, like cobwebs in gloomy nooks cold

Or like bats hanging upside down from trees

Not daring enough to be flexible and free

Averse to change still clinging to customs old

Tied to their sentiments they are not bold;

Yet we should not brush aside their feelings and thoughts

If these things are lost, can we capture the spirit of past?

No chance to retrieve their glory lost at any cost.

We should respect and imbibe their values, a lot.

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

 18th November 2025           Somaseshu Gutala

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KITCHEN IS HER HEAVEN

 

             

                                          

 1.   Throughout all her life kitchen is her main domain

       She has no retirement and is ever busy with her task

       No leave, no vacation did she ask

       She found joy in her profession and felt no strain

       As homemaker, she expected no bonus or gain

       A selfless dedicated housewife in true sense

       In serving food she found delight immense.

 

2.    Kitchen is her heaven though she never reveals

       She will not tolerate others her duty to take

       She is ever vigilant and won’t avail break

       From her duty; her culinary skills and vibrant zeal

       Even if go unrecognized, she never feels

       A perpetual innovator in her kitchen indeed

       Trying new recipes to satisfy others’ needs.  

3.  Ever busy she is right from morn to night

     Cutting vegetables and cooking food

     In preparing dishes, she feels herself in good mood

     She plans her menu in advance with her foresight

     With her magical touch, she adds taste to her diet;

     The whole family suffers if she stops even one day

     A selfless ritual and she likes to have her own way.

    

4.   Even if she goes to heaven, she surely says

    “Where is the kitchen?” as she likes with joy to fill

     And tickle the tastebuds of gods with her skills

     To make them happy with her dishes without delay

     Without cooking even for a moment, she will not stay

     Even in heaven she is ever bound to kitchen

     To advice of others, she never likes to listen. 

 

5.   With clockwork precision she works, never late;

      She blends various items to spring surprise

      She feels elated as if she won the Nobel prize

      When her friends admire her sense of taste;

      She never tolerates if her food goes waste;

      The kitchen is her favored place, idle she never sits

      Interference with her work she never permits.

               ***------------------------------------***

        5th November 2025                Somaseshu Gutala