1
You
may treat me as a laughing stock
As age moves on, we get
fixed in our daily routine
Of our old ways and
customs and we cannot wean
Away, though you think us
as weird and mock;
We were trained in such
ways by our elders old
We meekly followed them
and did what we were told
They gave us wisdom and
patience, though not gold.
2
A
different world entire in those old days
No explosion of technical
tools as of now
No tractors to till land
but bulls and plough
No domestic gadgets for
women; all day
They worked hard using
their manual skills
No imported cosmetics and
fluttering frills;
And can’t get everything
at their wish and will.
3
No
luxury coaches, flights and taxis to ride
Mostly people walked or
went by bullock-carts
On muddy roads with pits
and pot-holes fraught.
No six-laned white-topped
highways wide
Even school-going kids
too walked miles with bare feet;
No flashy uniforms but
simple dresses neat.
On floor they sat; no wooden benches and seats.
4
Our parents too thought well of disciplined
ways
Our teachers were too stern and strict
They made liberal use of
their sticks;
Our parents made us
respect our teachers and obey.
In choosing our clothes
or anything, no choice;
We had to listen to our
elders’ voice
None dared to speak out
or make noise.
5
Large
families our elders had to maintain
No fixed income except
what they could get
From their crops and
cattle, their only assets
So, no scope for them to
spend on luxuries vain;
To view movies for us, a
heavenly sight
To eat in restaurants, a
delicious delight;
To ask for more we had no
courage or right.
6
Even
during vacations, we had to read
Lest we forget if we idle
away our days;
Old books from seniors we
borrowed indeed
A few hours in studies,
before we used to play;
No pleasure trips to
places far away
But go to our relatives’
houses and stay
A jovial time for all of
us those happy days.
7
We
spent so many years in village though small
Even now we wish to visit
this place at least
Twice in a year and all
our relatives meet;
We eagerly respond to
their friendly call;
Our home stored with many
memories past
A comforting haven to all
our hearts.
In our lives- a precious,
inseparable part.
8 Our
elders never let us sit idle at home
We had to help them in
orchards or in farms;
Right from childhood we
bonded with Nature’s charms;
With cows in open
pastures, we used to roam
The pleasant smell of
fresh milk, we never forgot
The customs and worship
of gods we were taught
About our ancestors too,
we learnt a lot.
9
Though
far away from home we never lost
Our connections with our
village small;
From our elders’
experiences we learnt a lot
We are in touch with our friends, one and all;
Our elders felt contented
with what they had;
Despite a few problems
they never appeared sad;
They led a simple life peaceful, serene and glad.
10 Sever not links from where you were
born and bred
Break not roots which gave you life and did sustain
Close, intimate connections try to maintain
With your old home with
sweet memories spread;
Live not like a vagrant
moving from place to place
Cut off from your native
roots and place
Ignorant of your
language, customs and ways.
****************************
29th October 2026 Somaseshu Gutala
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