To my Relative

                                                         

                 

              

            Ever active and dynamic you are

            Wherever you go, you spread joy like a star;

            Never you feel tired endowed with skills

            You move gracefully like mountain rill;

            Despite hard work you enjoy and make others too

            Happy; you show keen interest in whatever you do;

            You decorate your home with skills supreme

            So beautiful like a fairy’s enchanting dream;

            Even with antique objects that found your favor

            To give an antique touch to your home décor;

            You love to travel with friends to scenic spots

            To view and come out with new thoughts.

            Your presence itself creates a festive charm

            Even pets you love a lot and do them no harm.

            A synthesis of tradition and modern trends

            In you I find an artistic, harmonious blend;

            Always willing to help others with a generous heart

            Always ready to share with others whatever you got;

            You stand firm on your morals and will not permit

            Others to intrude but keep them within their limits.

            Not like gentle spring cool and climate calm

            But you rush like a mighty turbulent storm

            With thunderous joy and lightning surprise

            Laughing and talking loud, everyone you mesmerize.

           With scintillating mirth and sparkling wit, you win

           The hearts of all; none can surpass you in

           Being generous, helpful, happy and kind.

           These are some of my thoughts that came to my mind

           About you; I conclude my commendatory lines

           Wishing you a happy life and a bright future fine.

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

                       

     30-11-2025                             Somaseshu Gutala

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                

OLD IS GOLD ?

 

                                                       

1.    All their responsibilities over; now they are old

So many years went fast with so many events

Of shocking surprises and smashing blows they spent;

Now they are idle, all their acts remain as memories dim

A rich tapestry of experiences manifold

Reveals their dark shades as well as their decisions bold;

Lingering dreams both hilarious and grim

Each thing, a rich mine of their feelings unfolds

Closely linked to their things though worn and old.

 

2.    Though of no use they tend to store articles old

Safely hidden in the lumber room or in the loft

To let them go rusting or gathering dust a lot

Their minds swell with pride whenever they behold

The relics of their past which they feel as precious as gold

Each item and article, a rich heritage reveals

Going back to many generations they feel

Their eyes become dim with tears when they recall

Their ancestors, their hard toil, uprise and their downfall.

 

3.    The tiled tiny houses old wherein they dwell

Were built in old fashion with tiny windows and doors

With tiled sloping roofs and rugged stone-floors

With spacious backyards and gloomy cells;

Appear morose, lonely with lost glory casting a tragic spell

Yet still survive weather-beaten with corridors long

They seem to resist decay and survive still strong

Though for others out of date, worthless and not so cute

Like ruined temples with broken sculptures mute.

 

4.    They stack their old books in cupboards in rows neat

Which they esteem as a valuable treasure

To them a source of knowledge and immense pleasure

But now gathered dust and verily a sumptuous feast

To silver fish; a rich heritage which they can not to forfeit;

The present generation finds no time or patience to read

Those bulky volumes, repositories of wisdom indeed

The present digital age people cannot not spare

So much space for these leather-bound collections rare.

 

5.    Their world seems out of date with articles old

Yet the elders would not like suddenly to part;

They are part of their lives very near to their hearts

They touch them as if they are worth precious gold

And praise them as strong, durable and not to be sold

The old T.V. fridge, brass vessels and pots

All obsolete things bought once at throw away cost

Each thing has a history and feelings of its own

They don’t like their old things as junk to be thrown.

 

6.    They may seem, like cobwebs in gloomy nooks cold

Or like bats hanging upside down from trees

Not daring enough to be flexible and free

Averse to change still clinging to customs old

Tied to their sentiments they are not bold;

Yet we should not brush aside their feelings and thoughts

If these things are lost, can we capture the spirit of past?

No chance to retrieve their glory lost at any cost.

We should respect and imbibe their values, a lot.

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

 18th November 2025           Somaseshu Gutala

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KITCHEN IS HER HEAVEN

 

             

                                          

 1.   Throughout all her life kitchen is her main domain

       She has no retirement and is ever busy with her task

       No leave, no vacation did she ask

       She found joy in her profession and felt no strain

       As homemaker, she expected no bonus or gain

       A selfless dedicated housewife in true sense

       In serving food she found delight immense.

 

2.    Kitchen is her heaven though she never reveals

       She will not tolerate others her duty to take

       She is ever vigilant and won’t avail break

       From her duty; her culinary skills and vibrant zeal

       Even if go unrecognized, she never feels

       A perpetual innovator in her kitchen indeed

       Trying new recipes to satisfy others’ needs.  

3.  Ever busy she is right from morn to night

     Cutting vegetables and cooking food

     In preparing dishes, she feels herself in good mood

     She plans her menu in advance with her foresight

     With her magical touch, she adds taste to her diet;

     The whole family suffers if she stops even one day

     A selfless ritual and she likes to have her own way.

    

4.   Even if she goes to heaven, she surely says

    “Where is the kitchen?” as she likes with joy to fill

     And tickle the tastebuds of gods with her skills

     To make them happy with her dishes without delay

     Without cooking even for a moment, she will not stay

     Even in heaven she is ever bound to kitchen

     To advice of others, she never likes to listen. 

 

5.   With clockwork precision she works, never late;

      She blends various items to spring surprise

      She feels elated as if she won the Nobel prize

      When her friends admire her sense of taste;

      She never tolerates if her food goes waste;

      The kitchen is her favored place, idle she never sits

      Interference with her work she never permits.

               ***------------------------------------***

        5th November 2025                Somaseshu Gutala