Hiding behind and moving with
cautious pace
As if participating in slow-moving
race
Plucking flowers at dawn behind
groves green;
A daily morning ritual for them to
get
As many flowers as they get fresh and
dew-wet;
The more flowers, the more merit they
trust
Worshipping God with flowers is a
must.
2 Moving from house-to-house flowers they
pluck
Of different fragrance and different hues
To satisfy gods, who cherish and
choose;
They think of others as rivals who
pluck
Flowers before them in early morning
hours;
A tough competition among them for
flowers
They assume their stealthy act not as
a sin
But an act of devotion for God’s grace
to win.
3 By offering flowers they please Gods a lot
By
external rituals and rites mere
For God’s sake what they do, they need not
fear
Not as plunder, but done with a pious thought
What
they do is not a sin as they deem;
Done with good purpose is not wrong, it seems
What
will the owners lose, they argue
By their act of plucking flowers, a few.
4 Many think that God’s grace they could win
By offering gifts, precious gems and gold;
God likes simple things as in legends told;
But they forgot to give the real blossom within
A thousand-petalled lotus effulgent and
bright
Of pure love, iridescent and shining light;
God expects selfless, simple devotion in fact
Not showy gifts but worship with a pure heart.
**********************
13th January 2026 Somaseshu Gutala
