Their Voices still I Hear

 

               

                     

               

                 

               Their Voices still I hear

       As if before me, here;

       Their faces still, appear

       Their merry laughter still resounds

       As if me, they have ever found;

       Their witty words still evoke thrill

       Those sweetest moments still my bosom fills

       Like lotus-buds floating on mountain rills;

       Those happy days we lived, not lazily kill

       What a rapid change Time has wrought!

       Those friendly faces and smiles forever lost

       In Time’s fast sucking abyss

       Those happy faces I always miss;

       Like vanishing spirits in air

       Now I saw them nowhere;

       All of them melted like a faery dream

       Those inspiring noble souls supreme

       Whom I always cherish with regard

       Like gods themselves they left without a word

       As days move on, many blows we should bear;

       At anytime and anywhere;

       Is this the gift or curse of growing age!

       No message or tidings we hope to receive

       They have gone away on eternal leave;

       Yet nothing can efface our intimate ties

      Of what they spoke or did, a precious prize;

      Their friendly affection, their wit and advice dear

      Their struggles, smiles and tears so pure and clear

      Ever inspire me as their virtuous souls

      And inspire me towards my destined goal;

     Unforgettable their voices and faces I feel

     Those lively moments none can seize or steal.

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

     19th March 2025                   Somaseshu Gutala

    

 

    

 

  

 

 

           

THE LONELY BIRD

                              

                       

                       

                       

1.    The bird went on piping in sweetest tone

Melodies sprung from her bosom with ease;

Though she knows that she is alone;

Her melodies melted waste and none doth please.

Still, she went on singing at night

As if to please distant stars and moon-light.

Like a traveler, who hums to himself at night

To divert his sense of dread as there is none in sight.

 

2.    The source of her song rushed swift like a fountain

Her swelling feelings she could not but restrain

A medley of diverse pleasures and pain

Her flowing thoughts within, she could not contain

Whether others heard or not she heeded not

She felt relief in pouring out her thoughts.

Lonely standing like a saint on her lonely tree

She poured out her feelings undisturbed and free.

 

3.    Her strange appearance, feathers and hue

Made her a stranger to other feathered friends;

None came near her, nor any help extend

She remained a visitor from distant realms new

None joined her company to sing or swing

Her strange voice did not attract and bring;

On a lone branch she perched steady and alone

None came forward to blend their voice with her tone.

 

4.    Her dreams, desires and hopes found way

In her sweet songs fraught with feelings deep

The whole vale echoed surrounded by summits steep

Yet none listened to her inspiring lays;

She heard her own rhythms with a sense of thrill

Which flowed with ease like a mountain-rill.

The whole valley responded to her charming tone

Transporting her to remote worlds unknown.

 

5."For whom will she sing?” you may ask.

In her world of music, she dwells

She sings with ease from her sylvan dell

In fading light at the time of dusk;

Her voice pours out her unfulfilled dreams;

Flowing effortless like a mountain stream;

She sings for herself to unburthen her feelings

Her soul reverberates with thousand meanings.

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

  6th March 2025                  Somaeshu Gutala