DON'T LOOK BEHIND

       

   

                               1)           What use to look upon the past ?

                                           So many years in idle ways you lost;
                                           You can't retrieve;  so past is past;
                                           The wrecks you can't set right.

                                            In winter hope not for blossoms bright;

                                           The lost vision of rain-bow dreams

                                            A broken dome of hues it seems.

                                  
                           2)             No tint of promising dawn for thee
                                           A dusky sinking shade
                                           Awaits--- no golden glade;
                                           Harden thyself and see
                                           Into the eyes of reality
                                           No manna of mercy drops
                                           No miraculous harvest of crops.

                           3)            The faded leaf can't green itself
                                           The bygone charm gone like an elf;
                                           You can't rewind the long lost hours
                                           You can't regain time-worn powers;
                                           The spilt nectar sweet can't be sipt
                                           You can't get back sweet moments slipt;
                                           Don't look back since time is too swift.

                          4)             Brace up and brave  the storm
                                          Life is not splendid calm;
                                          Thy goal is nearing and no fears
                                          For what is to be and no tears;
                                          Beyond that precipice--no dread
                                          No dithering tread-- all trepidations shed;
                                          Like a bold lion leap ahead.

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

           27th May, 2015.                                               Somaseshu Gutala


  1)   Miraculous harvest of crops  : refers to the miracle of feeding four thousand
        people by Jesus Christ, just from seven loaves near the sea of Galilee. 

  2)   No  manna of mercy  :  refers to God act of showering manna to save the
        starving jews in the desert of Sinai.

  3)    Precipice                         : Steep rock.


  4)   Reference to Browning's poem "Prospice" which means examine the past and
        look forward.

       The poet says : " I was ever a fighter, so --one fight more
                                     The best and the last".
                                  "  For sudden the worst turns best to the brave."






                                           
 

                                          


                                                                                         

                                  
                                          
                                            
                                    

THE STREET SINGER

         
                    

   
     

          


    

                                              


                                                           THE STREET SINGER

                               1)         Her song, an epic of life-long

                                                Struggle to keep the threatening death

                                               At bay; a deficient yet surging breath

                                               An effort to survive, to prolong.......

                                               No shame or shyness to conceal

                                               The naked voice or body to reveal;

                                 2)           Music burst forth to beg for bread;

                                               A piercing voice without any dread;

                                               No pause or break in tone

                                               No trace of deep suffering moan;

                                               She regaled people with ringing voice        

                                               Uncaring of rude mocking noise;

                                               Unmindful of loud sneers and shouts;

                                               Her song poured forth in vibrant swing

                                               Of raging rhythm flouting all doubts

                                               To drag her life, she has to sing and sing;

                                3)            A figure in rags with brownish hair

                                               Roughened by blows of fate unfair;

                                               With stretched palms she flitted from door to door;

                                               Inhuman silence her voice tore

                                               Straining her nerves to the utmost pitch

                                               Squeezing the hearts---depraved and rich.

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

                          

 24th May, 2015                                                                         Somaseshu Gutala                                        

                                               

                 

THE CITY BRIDGE

    




 

      

           











                        1)            The public rush has reached its peak
                                    Homeward bound all rushed--no break!
                                    A smothering, stuffy time without an inch of space.
                                    A hectic break-neck schedule one has to face;
                                    The stinking waters pretended calm
                                    The setting sun--- a mild, red warm;
                                     A timid breeze sqeezed past through crowd;
                                     Perched on stone-benches beneath the dusky shroud
                                     Of dusty smoke and bustling din,
                                     Beside the moss-laden lake stagnant green,
                                     The tired people sank down to pass some time
                                     Munching peanuts, a lazy pastime.
                                     No poetic thrill in polluted clime
                                     No poetic feelings outpoured in rhyme;

                      2)            Darkness thickens with dumb cold night
                                     The bridge dazzles with myriad lights;
                                     The frantic rush slowly dies down
                                     The statues stand like sentinels brown;
                                     A lone lover sighs and gazes at the sky
                                     The orphan-children in rags beg and cry;
                                     This bridge, a mute haven for city-life
                                     A brief respite from rushing strife;
                                     A symbol of brotherhood and peace
                                     Linking the straying hearts with sociable ease.

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

          23rd May, 2015                                                  Somaseshu Gutala


         Note :

          The squalid and polluted surroundings of crowded cities form a major
          theme in modern poetry. Poets like T.S.Eliot, W.H.Auden and Baudlaire
          exposed the spiritual isolation and mental stress of modern urbanites.
          In this poem I also tried to do in a similar way. 
                              ==================================
                         
         

ODE TO SUMMER'S BLOOM

  
  











                                                                                            



                             1 )      Thou, blooming fire on green boughs in spring!
                                     Thou, harbinger of blazing summer in swing !
                                     Thou, flash of crimson color to the core !
                                     Thou, splendor of sunsets before my door !
                                     The green leaves studded with abundant store
                                     Of silky stars, in countless numbers more
                                     A welcoming sight to any tender heart
                                     A striking red like Cupid's dart ;
                                     Surpassing the blush of Cyprian wine
                                     Surpassing the parrot's red beak fine;
                                     Capturing the wealth of diamond mine
                                     Thou, simple tender blossom in crimson shine.

                           2)         Nature's bounty here we all see
                                       A full-sretched glory in gorgeous glee;
                                       No tempting golden fruit, and yet
                                      A colorful splash, we can't forget;
                                      Throughout hot season can we find
                                      Thou,Sun's offspring of humble kind !
                                      Unasked you lavish a festive glow;
                                      A defiant red against Time's flow;
                                      Thou, fiery star of the earth, far beyond
                                      Our drab routine, like lotus-pond;
                                      Without the scorching heat you sway
                                      With fascinating glow of May.

                            3)      A gushing riot of color full-blown
                                     Like flood of poesy from bosom's throne;
                                     Red fire embodied in a bunched bloom
                                     Like beams of light sprouting through gloom;
                                     What human eye can choose to be blind
                                     To such a ravishing pageant of Nature kind !
                                     A flush of feelings in  a generous mind
                                     Unhindered by guilt in thee we find;
                                     What blessed wreath of praise can I bestow!
                                     A taper's light before Apollo's glow!
                                     Thou, Child of unblemished joy, adieu!
                                     No tinselled rhyme can capture thy magic hue.

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

                        22nd May, 2015                                           Somaseshu Gutala


                                    1)     Cyprian wine = red wine from Cyprus

                                   2)      Golden apples  =Golden apples brought
                                            by Hercules from Hesperides
                                   3)      Cupid = Greek god of love depicted
                                             as holding bow and arrows
                                   4)      Harbinger = One who foretells about an event
                                   5)      Apollo  =  Sun-God in Greek mythology

                                               ===========================
                                   

THE DANCE OF NATURE

     
  








 

                 










                                                                            I

                                             A sudden change in sky-scape blue
                                             Sleek chains of pearls with mercurial glow
                                             A loud shudder of unbounded throb
                                             A frenzied gush of blowing wind
                                             Shaking each leaf with brushing sweep;
                                             The earth's response too keen to see;
                                             Hot sighs of close communion sweet
                                             Rise from Her parched dust-brown lips;
                                             Plants like fresh-bathed kids swing and cheer
                                             The pattering drops pure, crystal-clear;
                                             Trees waving their fan-like foliage free
                                             Grass swells emerald-green with pearl-decked showers;
                                             Each bloom imbibes a glittering charm.



                 

             

            








                                                                          
                                                                     II

                                             A festive dance of earth and sky
                                             So free, so cool, emotive sharing bliss;
                                             And we in civilized fetters fret
                                             Uncaring of this unbridled joy;
                                             We sit unmoved like lifeless tools 
                                             Buried in thoughts and devilish strife
                                             Unresponsive to this spontaneous thrill
                                             A lyric of Nature's omniscient skill;
                                             Oh, let me be free like rain, wind or stream!
                           Not posing like cute cultured dolls; we should be what we seem.

                                                    *****************************************
                                             
                  16th May, 2015                                              Somaseshu Gutala                                             

KITCHEN QUEEN

           
        

                                  1)             A useful invention thou art
                                                  A concrete help to culinary art;
                                                  To lighten dreary household work
                                                  No need for us our duty to shirk;
                                                  A gift of science to every woman and man
                                                  Our work made quick, so spick and span.

                                  2)            Without thee, much delay in routine
                                                  Now plenty of leisure and kitchen clean
                                                  No suffocating smoke or dirt
                                                  No pungent vapors from vessels hurt;
                                                  All in one container thou art
                                                  A steaming treat, our fresh breakfast.

                                 3)            Thy whistling hiss I cannot miss
                                                 A welcome sound fills me with bliss
                                                 Ev'ry thing's ready in time so short;
                                                 All items fresh-cooked, piping hot
                                                 No loss of vitamins, no half-cooked stuff;
                                                 Open the lid, delicious smells you puff. 

                         



 













                                  4)           Swishing, steaming and hissing loud
                                                Thou art our prestigious possession proud
                                                Man-friendly gadget, thou, best friend
                                                To all; with thee, a happy time we spend;
                                                A boon for ladies and gents indeed
                                                Cooking, no more a boring deed.

                                  5)          Thy shiny steel look adds grace to shelf
                                               Thou art indeed a scientific elf;
                                               Thou, source of saving energy, a lot;
                                               Time-saver, and server of dishes hot;
                                               Let people praise and take a lesson from thee;
                                               Service, the core of all beliefs, in brief.

                 
                                         ************************************ 
                                                                                                                                                                                    13th May, 2015                                                                      Somaseshu Gutala                                                                                                                                                         


                                                     

            










                                        
 

THE LONELY PIPER

     

                
                              

 

                               1)      I heard a lone melancholy plaintive drawl
                                  Of the lonely piper begging round
                                  A wail of shrill soul-piercing call
                                  As if his pipe puffed pain profound
                                  A lean old man turbaned appeared before
                                  A flood of music through dim morn tore.

                        2)       In ragged attire once shone with  richest charm
                                  A faded apparel  of good old times
                                  Big beads, strange shells bedecked his form
                                  He went alone with tinkling chimes;
                                  Puffing a full-blown outdated song
                                  Something missing,something went wrong.

                             3)         I thought of happy past times' call
                                  When festive zeal infused in all full cheer
                                  When whole village became a wedding hall
                                  When each house appeared neat and clear
                                  Where were those merry moments gone?
                                  Why this sad sullen song in morn?

                       4)       Where's the humped bull with crescent horns
                                 Striding with regal pace full-drest
                                 With precious brocaded silks adorn
                                 With tassels and bells upon his painted crest
                                 Where is the piper with the magic spell? 

                      5)        The piper's lusty shout at every door
                                 Rang out a note of joy in all to see
                                 His hands were filled with gifts galore;
                                 The bull shook to and fro his crown with glee
                                 The village welcomed with full-stretched arms
                                 The piper gladdened all with sportive charms.

                      6)        And now none cares to come and hear his song
                                 Old, weak and neglected by all
                                 Dragged on and drawled a sullen song
                                 Without his beloved bull and silken shawl
                                 A lifeless spirit gaunt he slowly went
                                 From lane to lane his form half-bent.

                      7)        In his sad face seen the ruined spirit
                                 Of rural heritage of dying past;
                                 Who can revive the bygone mirth and wit? 
                                 The piper without his sacred bull, a lost
                                 Legend of fabled mirth and thrill ;
                                 His song rings through my bosom still.

                     8)        A dreary noise indifferent all round spills
                                Snapping the friendly feelings of intimacy
                                Too much concern for one's self kills
                                The spirit of charity and mercy;
                                The piper's song -- a glorious lyric for all
                                To sing, to share and live with all. 

                                         ======================

    
         2nd May, 2015                                                             Somaseshu Gutala