BREAK DOWN

       

                                    

    1)   All of a sudden, silence profound

           Not even a hum or beeping sound

           No lifts, no whir of kitchen gadgets I heard

           No shout of excitement, not even a word.

  2)      No T.V. no mobile, no megaphone loud

           Dumb stillness spread around like a shroud;

           No mad craze as all systems crashed

           All work force-stopped, none madly rushed.

3)        Hands busied themselves in household chores

           Cooking, washing and sweeping the floor

           Kids used their brains to count and write;

           No mechanical help with solutions straight.

4)        Men passed their time in strolling through green

           Watching the colorful sunset scene;

           The roar of speeding vehicles disturbed no more

           No more deafening music from all sides pours.

5)       No smoky pollution all around

          No vehicles – all have to walk on ground;

          No costly restaurants there to dine

         Only home-cooked victuals tasting fine.

6)     Nature seemed free from man’s greedy grip

        Rivers flowed with fresh waters to sip;

        Nature’s boundaries none can skip

        Our false pretensions we have to strip.

7)     Men stayed at home cool, unruffled minds

        Close intimacy in their families find;

        Young kids no more tied down to books and mobiles

        Go out to play in lawns with spirits agile. 

8)    If all systems fail, what will remain?

       What use these devices and instruments vain?

       Nature’s gifts don’t underestimate

       On nature depends our survival and fate.

9)    Our so-called safe systems smashed in a flash

       And all our gadgets seemed to be trash;

       All our knowledge advanced has failed futile

       We have to change our views and living style.

10)  No more speeding flights, no electric lights

       No luxury cars and caravans in sight;

       Each limited to his home and country farm

       Should work to earn, no rushing traffic jam.

11)   All is not gone; be not submerged in gloom

        Still we have to live- no danger or doom;

        Had not our ancestors lived in conditions worse?

        They found joy in hard work and not in easy purse. 

12)   With changing times adjust thy pace

         Creativity blossoms in many ways;

         Realize your potential and use your mind

         Harmonize with Nature generous and kind.

13)    Like devouring dinosaurs with monstrous size

         You destroyed Nature for gains unwise;

         Leading to this catastrophic surprise

         Polluting Nature under technological guise.

14)    Our ancestors combined beauty with use

          A sense of devotion in everything did fuse;

          No mindless destruction or misuse

          Nature’s gifts they enriched, never did they lose.

15)     This swift astounding change may possibly bring

          A new era with a fresh new beginning;

          A new vision with a new attitude

          A new Atlantis with wisdom imbued.

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

           23rd May, 2020                            Somaseshu Gutala

Note:  Once in our locality there was a sudden break down of power supply. Dead  silence I felt in our building which used to have a variety of sounds emanating from various gadgets besides the sounds of bikes and cars. I visualized an imaginary situation of the city if all systems fail including internet and automobiles. What will be the reaction of an ordinary person in such a situation?   Of course man has to rely on his own abilities and mutual co-ordination. The sudden cessation of activities will surely make man observe his surroundings and persons to get an intimate understanding. Cut off from electronic devices he has to rely on books and other written material. He will come to intimate terms with Nature and derive pleasure to behold her charms and her valuable lessons.The precious value of manual labor and involvement will be understood. He has to give up his dependence on machines and hone his own skills to face life's challenges. He has to activate his creative skills and talents. This "catastrophic surprise" may happen due to man's destructive instincts and his overambitious, exploitative attitude towards Nature. Man has to adjust to his new circumstances for his ultimate survival and recognize the truth that his survival is closely linked with survival of other living creatures and protection of Nature.

Ref :  Atlantis -- An imaginary place mentioned in Plato's dialogues "Timaeus" and "Critias" where once a highly advanced civilization existed. But the inhabitants of that place became greedy and morally corrupt. The  gods became  angry and destroyed the kingdom for the people had lost their way and turned to immoral pursuits. This island kingdom sank into the ocean around 9600 B.C.

        New Atlantis -- A Utopian novel published by Sir Francis Bacon in 1627 after bacon's death in 1626. This book describes a Utopian world  where people lived ideal,peaceful, enlightened lives.

                 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

                

Trekkers

 

       

                                             

  1)   A long line of trekkers in scorching heat

        Not for pastime, their sweating faces reveal

        Deprived of jobs, life’s ends they could not meet;

        Their sorrows and troubles none  did feel;

        Their battered lives thrown like orange peels

        By their so-called masters with selfish deals.

2)     All ways blocked, no vehicles to return

        Hounded by ruthless rules, no way to turn;

        With starving families their bosoms burn;

        They took to streets as no one showed concern;

        They trudged on roads like frightened beasts

        Carrying loads with none to care at least.

3)     Cut off from homes and from their kith and kin 

         They struggled for minimum wages to earn

         In city’s slums they dwell with dust and din;

         Not for royal luxuries they did yearn;

        This pandemic threw their lives out of gear

        No help and support for them from anywhere.

4)    Trekking hundreds of miles with loads on heads

       A long line of migrant  workers from different states;

       Resting on wayside farms and in broken sheds

       Just like beggars left alone cursing their fate;

       Is this the due reward for their incessant strain?

       For their hard industry what did they gain?

5)    The city drained their strength in selfish ways

        Rejecting them in times of troublesome days;

        Drove them out from their slums, nowhere to stay

        Depriving their due benefits and pay;

        None cared to see their deplorable state

        The city locked down shutting their gates.

6)    The city prospered feeding on their blood

       The city squeezed their fruits of toil to gain;

       The city let them suffer and struggle in a flood

       Of miseries, disease and starving pain;

       Left them like refugees in alien deserts lost

       Made them return to home with tragic thoughts.

7)   Some died of starvation on their way

      Some fell down sick exhausted and weak

      Some could not bear the heat of blazing day

      Mired in poverty their future seemed too bleak;

      Some were whisked away back to shelters dim

      Cooped up to spend their days in situation grim.

8)   Returning to their homes, their cherished dream

      To live or die there, their final goal;

      None cared to hear their woes, their agonized screams

      None recognized their toil, their vital role;

     Their families pestered with ailments and pain

     Their strenuous stay brought them nothing to gain.

9)  Their travelling ordeal moved many hearts

      Their tears and cries, a shameful curse

      On those who treat people with heartless thoughts

      On those who cared only for their power and purse;

      What these poor people need only quick relief

      And liberal help to lessen their grief.

10) In these times of sudden adversity

       Let us extend our help to suffering men

       Our support in testing times of necessity;

       Inhuman to leave them in lurch and shun;

       Save these trekkers from their stress and strain

       Let powers act, not speak mere platitudes in vain.

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

  10th May, 2020                                    Somaseshu Gutala