A Sinner’s Hope

 

                             

                           

                       

1.       Unrestrained myself, innumerable sins, I commit

Unlimited mercy still You reveal
The pangs of remorse though not I feel

With flower-fresh bosom I dare not kneel

Yet still You feel, my Lord! am I fit

To receive Thy blessings if I do not lead

A virtuous life, without self-destructive speed?

The warning voice of conscience if I do not heed.

 

2.       What is the use of my knowledge deep?

Whatever we learn to imbibe becomes mute,

If it does not restrain our desires and refute;

Like tempting mermaids, they seem so pretty and cute

What use if it allows our discrimination sleep?

If it does not restrain desires unchecked and dire

Sweeping swiftly like raging forest-fire;

As if hurling me down from a rugged hill steep.

 

3.     So impervious our misleading minds

       Even adverse conditions and troubles won’t change

 My attitudes, actions and mental range

 Whatever they do it seems right, so strange

 Who will save us from restless routine grind?

 Even dread of punishment will not reform;

             Bewitched by pleasures we yield to the false charm

             Will worldly things give true joy and unruffled calm?

       

4.     Still your boundless mercy and your promise

 Magnanimous gives us assuring trust

 Whoever chants Thy names will tide over this gust

 Of this maze of whirling passions and thrust

 No matter, of whatever state of degrading sins

 He will never perish and is bound to win

 From this distracting turmoil and dreadful din;

 And rise like a star through this gloomy debris.

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Note:   "Abandon all varieties of dharmas and simply surrender unto Me alone. I shall liberate you from all sinful reactions; do not fear." --Bhagavad Gita

    16th June 2025                           Somaseshu Gutala

 

 

            

            

  

 

 

 

 

THE RAIN AT NIGHT

 

          

                             

                               

              

                     

 1.     The rain played havoc in the city streets

 The speeding vehicles caught unawares

 Amidst swelling gutters and drains; who dares

 To wade through deep waters- a risky feat;

 All traffic came to sudden standstill sheer

 Horns blared; tempers perturbed; none can clear

 This mess through the tight packed lanes to move on;

 The heavy downpour continued till dusky morn.

 

2.     The rain seems to teach a bitter lesson

 To struggling city proud of her status and state;

 Unplanned reckless expansion with no vision

 Still the public realizes not their impending fate

 The rain exposed the potholes of corruption

 Cracked ways and muddy stagnant condition

 Of city ways and the ever rampant greed

 Of overflowing drains and thick, overgrown weeds.

 

3.     The rain brought up dormant lurking lust

 Stirred up innate flames of smoldering love

 The rain washed away the heaps of garbage and dust

 The rain life-giving blessings poured from above

 Childish innocence jumped with airy delight

 With fresh green leaves the trees tossed bright

 The clouds resounded with flashing thunders this night

 The earth with fresh look seemed a joyous sight.

 

4.     The rain pushed estranged lovers to meet in gloom

 Wiping out their differences, unseen

 Firing their sleeping desires at once to bloom

 The rain refreshed the trees with radiant sheen;

 The rain like a magic wand brought hope and cheer

 The rain bid farewell through starry night clear

 The rain left everything fresh, shining bright

 The rain enhanced the lovely blissful night.

 

5.     The rain transcending man-made status and state

 Bestowed her blessings in bounteous measure

 On every herb, creature and oceans vast

 The rain at night filled us with immense pleasure

 And made us brood upon our life routine

 Burdened with loads of guilt and musings mean;

 Nature’s power and purging effect of rain

 We feel serene and solace in dark star-studded domain.

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

  8th June 2025                     Somaseshu Gutala