DRY HEART

                  

    

              

        

       

 

   1   My heart went suddenly dry

   My brain too is blank and dry.

   I can’t express my feelings straight

   Can’t find a way to choose lines right

   Just used to press the key to throw out

   Something easy and fine not thinking about

   For everything we depend on machines and AI

   We are too lazy and too busy even to try. 

 

2         Stopped even to think and look deep

 Too much vexed with problems, no time to sleep

 With made-easy solutions at hand to gain

 Why should I unnecessarily strain my brain?

 Too long engaged in turmoil and noise

 I have no time to listen to my inner voice

 I left the golden realm of fancy long ago

 I lost my artistic, spontaneous flow. 

 

3.   My eyes are dry with burning sensation slight

    They forgot to shed tears of joy and delight

    They can’t behold and respond to nature’s charms

    They can’t enjoy surrounding beauteous forms

    Staying in the world of machines they lost insight

    They can’t appreciate colorful Nature bright

    Our thinking power and feeling we delegate

    To machines and live in a simple, static state.

 

4        Have we bartered our soul to lifeless tools?

And dance to their routine commands and rules?

Our creative skills lost their role

Machines rule our minds and control

Our every act and thought in their ruthless grip;

We live like slaves under their dictatorship.

AI is the buzzword of the modern age

Man’s work made easy at every stage.

 

5        A miraculous invention to help mankind

     Endowed with intelligence and superfast mind.

The nearest replica of human brain

To discover Nature’s secrets and help man gain

Yet not an exact substitute for man

Man’s nature is too abstruse to scan.

Though it is an extension of man’s mind

It lacks human feelings liberal and kind.

 

6     This superintelligent device no doubt leads

    Man, to get his work done at superspeed

    And achieve progress and satisfy his needs

    Yet it can not replace man in every field;

    Too much dependence on AI poses major risks

    Machines misused leads to his downfall brisk

    Man’s innate skills become stunted and dry

     All his job opportunities gone; his talents die.

      ****************************

     2nd July 2026                 Somaseshu Gutala

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALL IN BLUE (A Fantasy)

 

                    

                            

                                   

                       

      

 

                                    

                              

                       

          

                            My mind became a clear blue pool   

                            The waters are so blue and cool

                           The blue lilies in blue moonshine

                           Gleamed like blue diamonds fine;

                                          The blue birds floated like blue fairies at night

                                          Around the blue bushes like glow-worms bright.

                                          The blue moon mirrored in blue waters calm

                                          Like blue pearls, dew-drops with charm                          

                                         The blue swans float through dense blue brakes

                                         Like blue sapphire- isles on the bluish lake.

                                         A blue-skinned baby with blue feathers seen

                                         Smiling with big blue lotus-eyes serene

                                         Resting on a blue lotus-leaf afloat

                                         As if sailing smooth on a dark blue boat;

                                         A happy, happy dream so bluish cool

                                         Feeling the soft touch of the clear blue pool

                                         Free from cares I feel the cool touch

                                         Of bliss which I can’t describe much   

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

                                      24th June 2026        Somaseshu Gutala

  

       

  

             

         

  

 

 

 

                               

                               

 

 

 

A Morning Stroll

 

              

                            

                                                              

1           The warm sun with fresh morning breeze

    Tempted me to go on a stroll

    Once it was a jungle dense, this area whole

    But now hundreds of trees razed down with ease

    By monstrous machines to satisfy the greed

    Of landgrabbers and none cared to heed

    The layman’s complaint and what they need

    Is just to fill their coffers with speed;

    The jungle is gone and not a trace

    The multi-storied buildings usurped that place.

 

2          A green mini-forest as they say is seen

   A park in place of spacious jungle as they say

   A poor substitute for Nature’s display

   Amidst this concrete jungle dry without a touch of green

   As custodians of Nature, they proudly thought;

   Can they create Nature once lost?

   Can they bring back the freedom of wild forms?

   Can they bring back the stunning colors of scenic charms?

   The merry cries of birds and bursting roar of beasts?

   With everchanging hues, the jungle seemed a visual feast. 

 

3          Man has become a ruthless predator indeed

   Usurping everything by brutal might

   His perverted mind thinks what he did is right;

   Just to widen roads and build mansions

   He felled millions of trees without conscience;

   In the name of progress, he creates chaotic domain

   He snuffed out lives of creatures with disdain.

   Destroying Nature for his selfish gain.

 

4         As I took the morning stroll in the park

   I found hybrid bushes and thorny shrubs in rows

   All in dull dreary form; Fresh Nature’s look they lack

   No space for them as they wish to freely grow

   The lively abundance and dense thickness wild;

   The garden looked like a kid meek and mild

   Some bushes are trimmed in various shapes fine

   Controlled by rigid rules and standing in line

   The vital glow of life is missing and there is nil

   Like dull plastic figures the trees stood still.

 

5        Whatever man boasts of his knowledge great

  The refreshing breath of Nature he can’t re-instate

  To cover his heinous crime, he may prate;

  Freedom and beauty of woods he can’t re-create;

  Does civilization mean to go on killing spree?

  Murdering wild beasts, birds and bulky trees?

  Plundering Nature in the name of progress

  Risking his own existence beyond our guess?

  Let forests, hills and lakes kindly spare

  Protect Nature and your surroundings with care.

                  *******************

    11th June 2026               Somaseshu Gutala

 

 

 

  

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHO IS THE REAL DOER?

               

                                      

                   

         

1             His poems serve like clear crystal glass

Mirroring the problems of suffering mass;

The stamp of his verse lasts for long

His rhythm as sweet as a lyric song

His characters act and talk like living creatures

In brief his poems have universal features.

He deems himself as the greatest one

To compare with his genius there is none.

 

2           He breathes life in whatever he draws

His use of vibrant colors draws applause

Right from his childhood he did display

His painting skills and his exceptional way;

Another Raphael or Titian he thought

Of himself with his original art self-taught.

He stunned his viewers' hearts with colorful dreams

As a greatest painter he was held in esteem. 

 

3           Rocky boulders breathed life in his hand

He chiseled them into splendid statues grand

In every temple and palace his art is seen

Statues glistened with black, smooth polished sheen

Sturdy rocks turned soft by his matchless skill

Lively figures with lovely curves inspiring thrill.

Another Michael Angelo or Davinci himself he thought

Deemed himself as the creator of superb art.

 

4          His voice enchanted millions of souls

He thought he had reached his long, cherished goal

His melodious voice admired everywhere

Among his peers he has no equal, beyond compare

He used his voice to earn immense wealth and fame

He never thought from whom his talent came.

He did not consider singing glories of God

He sang only to admire his kings and lords.

 

5         He felt too much proud of his intellectual mind

      Creating inventions helpful to mankind

      To achieve his goal, he worked too hard

Making devices as others applaud

He was proud of conquering Nature

He was the greatest scientists of noble stature.

Who is the greatest scientist with fantastic art?

Who created this wonderful world he never thought. 

 

6     Being proud of  a ruler of mighty empire

He subjugated many kings and still aspires

To extend his sovereign rule with power immense

Without caring for loss of lives and huge expense;

He called himself as God and will not rest

He didn’t care others and did what he deems as best

He did not realize the source of his mighty power

To glorify himself he built many huge towers. 

 

7            Power and wealth pollute many in fact

         As very few for welfare righteously act

        We forget the real source of power within

And add credit to ourselves, an ignorant sin

Our efforts to immortalize ourselves is vain

Almighty Time wipes out all with disdain

Neither our power nor wealth last ever long

Before Almighty God, our powers strong. 

 

8                  Men are easily puffed up with ignorant pride

              Unaware of inner source who really guides

             Mistaking the shell for the egg we deem

             We think ourselves as doers as it seems;

             Who is the real doer who gives credit and fame

             To us though we exist only by name;

            The real subject, object and verb are all-in-one

             Without His omniscient presence we are none.

                   *****************

   5th June 2026                         Somaseshu Gutala

Note : "Acknowledge that you are the channel, not the ultimate cause of your actions."  ---- "Bhagavadgita ( 11th Chapter, verse 33).

Leonordo da vinci --- (1452-1519)15th century painter, scientist and inventor. He is primarily known for his paintings "Mona Lisa" and "The last Supper."     

Raphael  --- (1483-1520) 16th century Italian  painter. "The Sistine madonna" and "The Alba madonna" are his well-known paintings.

Michael Angelo -- (1475-1564) 15th century famous sculptor and painter. His frescoes on the Sistine Chapel " Creation of Adam" and  "The Last Judgement " are famous masterpieces.

Titian ---(1488-1576) 16th century Italian painter. The painting "Venus of urbino" is his most famous painting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On my visit to Kota Sattemma Temple, Nidadavolu (East Godavari Dist ) A.P.

 

Kota Sattemma Temple entrance

                               

                                  

Kota sattemma idol on the frieze

       

Way to the temple

                                              

Entrance Hall or Mukhamandapam

                                

  

                        

Kota Sattemma Idol in the sanctum

                                                      

Nangalamma idol near the Godavari canal

This temple was established by the eastern Chalukya king, Veerabhadra who married Kakatiya queen Rani Rudramadevi in Nidadavolu (Niravadyapuram). This Swaymbhu ten-feet high (self-manifested) idol was once seen in the king’s fort. This fort was a “Jaladurgam” of eastern Chalukya kings surrounded by water bodies. Once this town was the capital of Eastern Chalukya kings. King Veerabhadra ruled some parts of West Godavari district in 13^th century.  The Goddess was regarded as the protector of the fort. The Chalukya King Bhima, builder of Draksharama temple, won this region from Rashtrakutas.  Once there were more than one hundred Shiva temples in this region., Many of these temples were destroyed by Mohd bin Tuglk in 1323.Gradually the fort was gone. In 1934, a native of Thimmaraju Palem, Sri Devulapalli Rama Murty Shastri found this idol in his field. The goddess appeared in his dream and asked him to construct a temple. Shastri with the help of farmers constructed this temple. With the permission Rama Murty Shastri, this temple was once managed by Yadavas. Nidadavolu was developed prominent Arya Vaisyas. Timmaraju Palem is just three kms from Nidadavolu town.

The main idol is seen with four hands bearing a conch, dice, Abhayaa, Varada Mudras and bearing a Yagnopavita (the sacred thread). The conch in her hand represents power and sacred sound of “OM”. The dice in Her hand represents strategy and intelligence. She is also associated with (Hala) that is a plough since the idol was discovered by the plough while Krishna Sastri was ploughing the field. In 1992 the Endowments Department took charge of this temple. Nityannadanam (free meals) is done every day in the afternoon.

 Between 1976 and 1977, the temple was further expanded. In 2002 this temple was developed with a spacious premises. The opening hours of this temple are from 6.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 3.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.  On Sundays and Tuesdays, the temple is open from 3.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. Many unmarried people and couples desiring progeny offer prayers here. Even Muslims visit this place to get their desires fulfilled.  On Sundays and Tuesdays, many devotees come to this temple in large numbers from East and Godavari districts, Srikakulam and Vijayanagara districts also.

 Special poojas are done on auspicious festival days like Ugadi, Sri Rama Navami, Toli Ekadasi, Vara Lakshmi Vratam, Krishnashtami, Vinayaka Chaviti, Navaratri, radha Mukkoti Ekadashi, Sankranti, and Radhasaptami festival days. During Navaratri days, Chandi Homam is done. The nearby temples in Chinna Kashi Revu, like Golingeshwara Alayam, Anjaneya Alayam, Someshwara Alayam,Madana Gopala Swamy Alayam, and the temple of local Goddess Nangamma Alayam.  Nanagalamma temple is in Samisragudem.

There are three buildings for devotees to stay here. There is also a shopping complex here to buy pooja material. All these temples are located beside the bank of Godavari canal.

                                   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

     30th May 2026                             Somaseshu Gutala