I A sudden change in sky-scape blue Sleek chains of pearls with mercurial glow A loud shudder of unbounded throb A frenzied gush of blowing wind Shaking each leaf with brushing sweep; The earth's response too keen to see; Hot sighs of close communion sweet Rise from Her parched dust-brown lips; Plants like fresh-bathed kids swing and cheer The pattering drops pure, crystal-clear; Trees waving their fan-like foliage free Grass swells emerald-green with pearl-decked showers; Each bloom imbibes a glittering charm.
II
A festive dance of earth and sky So free, so cool, emotive sharing bliss; And we in civilized fetters fret Uncaring of this unbridled joy; We sit unmoved like lifeless tools Buried in thoughts and devilish strife Unresponsive to this spontaneous thrill A lyric of Nature's omniscient skill; Oh, let me be free like rain, wind or stream! Not posing like cute cultured dolls; we should be what we seem.
***************************************** 16th May, 2015 Somaseshu Gutala
1) A useful invention thou art A concrete help to culinary art; To lighten dreary household work No need for us our duty to shirk; A gift of science to every woman and man Our work made quick, so spick and span.
2) Without thee, much delay in routine Now plenty of leisure and kitchen clean No suffocating smoke or dirt No pungent vapors from vessels hurt; All in one container thou art A steaming treat, our fresh breakfast.
3) Thy whistling hiss I cannot miss A welcome sound fills me with bliss Ev'ry thing's ready in time so short; All items fresh-cooked, piping hot No loss of vitamins, no half-cooked stuff; Open the lid, delicious smells you puff.
4) Swishing, steaming and hissing loud Thou art our prestigious possession proud Man-friendly gadget, thou, best friend To all; with thee, a happy time we spend; A boon for ladies and gents indeed Cooking, no more a boring deed.
5) Thy shiny steel look adds grace to shelf Thou art indeed a scientific elf; Thou, source of saving energy, a lot; Time-saver, and server of dishes hot; Let people praise and take a lesson from thee; Service, the core of all beliefs, in brief.
************************************ 13th May, 2015 Somaseshu Gutala
1) I heard a lone melancholy plaintive drawl Of the lonely piper begging round A wail of shrill soul-piercing call As if his pipe puffed pain profound A lean old man turbaned appeared before A flood of music through dim morn tore. 2) In ragged attire once shone with richest charm A faded apparel of good old times Big beads, strange shells bedecked his form He went alone with tinkling chimes; Puffing a full-blown outdated song Something missing,something went wrong.
3) I thought of happy past times' call When festive zeal infused in all full cheer When whole village became a wedding hall When each house appeared neat and clear Where were those merry moments gone? Why this sad sullen song in morn?
4) Where's the humped bull with crescent horns Striding with regal pace full-drest With precious brocaded silks adorn With tassels and bells upon his painted crest Where is the piper with the magic spell? 5) The piper's lusty shout at every door Rang out a note of joy in all to see His hands were filled with gifts galore; The bull shook to and fro his crown with glee The village welcomed with full-stretched arms The piper gladdened all with sportive charms. 6) And now none cares to come and hear his song Old, weak and neglected by all Dragged on and drawled a sullen song Without his beloved bull and silken shawl A lifeless spirit gaunt he slowly went From lane to lane his form half-bent.
7) In his sad face seen the ruined spirit Of rural heritage of dying past; Who can revive the bygone mirth and wit? The piper without his sacred bull, a lost Legend of fabled mirth and thrill ; His song rings through my bosom still.
8) A dreary noise indifferent all round spills Snapping the friendly feelings of intimacy Too much concern for one's self kills The spirit of charity and mercy; The piper's song -- a glorious lyric for all To sing, to share and live with all.
1) Scurrying one after another we went Armed with wedged poles to sight by scent To pluck the yellow fruits concealed A playful task with joy we reeled To find, to pluck and gently toss Into the shells of bamboo bedded with grass. 2) Some climb with skill to pluck the prize Others look up with prying eyes Some catch the booty thrown from height Their playful mirth doth make work light. An air of togetherness felt by all No hard work is this; a sport this fall Of golden globes from bushy leaves; To run and chuckle, each other tease The bruised fruits for lesser use; The poor lads licked the fruits let loose.
3) Whenev'r a fruit was found and hit A cry of joy from eyes that flit From branch to branch with a greedy smile Shaking the leaves to capture the pile; A round of mango heap entire With ripened smell and ruddy fire; We craned our necks to spy aloft We poked our shafts with gentle craft To pluck if any hidden fruit soft With aching limbs and gaze enrapt. 4) The birds driven by pluckers fly Look far from a safe distance high; The tree shorn of her fruitful show Looks bare with empty sacrificial glow: A soul that gives her all to share Ripens in full by godly care. 5) Our labor sweetened with ultimate prize A share of buxom yellow fruit ; For young and old, a feast for eyes; This naked tree now none can loot; We went away uncaring summer's heat Till next mango season with memories sweet. *************************************** 6th April, 2015 SOMASESHU GUTALA
Note: The dream-experience after picking apples in the orchard is beautifully articulated by Robert Frost(1874--1963 ) in his poem " After Apple-picking" (1914). There the poet says "I am overtired/ of the great harvest I myself desired." " I am done with apple-picking now." But in this poem "Mango-pluckers", the agile children enjoyed to their hearts' content the toilsome act of mango-plucking and ate mangoes without caring the intense heat of the Indian summer. It is a factual experience where work and delight meet. The mango tree denuded of her luscious and ripe, yellow fruits represents the generous and selfless Mother Nature who still shines with sacrificial glow. The children leave satisfied with their abundant store of fruits till nature beckons them again in summer season. I used irregular stanzas to capture the free spirit of playful children enjoying their activity. Frost's poem inspired me to write this lyric suited to our Indian context and surroundings. ======================
1) Who isn't afraid of thee ? Thou, blazing season of the year ! Arousing in us volcanic fear Withering each herb, bush and tree Thou, friend of burning sun and fire! Hot like furnace with blowing air. 2) In stuffy sweltering heat We struggle hard to quench our thirst Burdened with power-crisis worst No cool comforting zephyrs sweet A roasting hell everywhere around Not a drop of water in streams found. 3) Thy fiery rage burns us all Houses, cattle and men to dust With crackling fire and fiery gust; The houseless victims reel and fall Subdue thy rage, almighty power! Send us sometimes cool refreshing shower. 4) Deserted roads 'midst day Confined in rooms all people stay They rush to cool their parched lips With sweet sugarcane juicy sips Iced drinks, and fragrant syrups sweet With air-coolers to beat the heat. 5) A welcome guest, cool night Though warm with lingering torpid sighs A brief respite from starry sighs The floating moon, a soothing sight; Tired with heat, men drowsily swoon The rustling breeze, a refreshing boon. 6) Undreaded by thy might Nature bares her colorful store ; Red forest flame and jasmine white Ripe juicy melons, grapes and mangoes more To cool our bodies' restless heat And soothe our senses with fragrance sweet. 7) Ev'n wild beasts hunt for shade Famished cattle scarce find a leafy blade Like passionate youth misled astray Thou ragest like mad dog in May; The sun flames forth like a ball of fire Behold our plight; control thy ire. 8) Rich people rush to remote Resorts in A.C.Coaches trim Sipping wine foaming up to brim They drown summer in mirth and sport The poor debt-ridden starve in grief; Cool down! With mother's touch give us relief. 9) Reveal thy secrets dark Thy rage makes us stark mad A million eyes you can make glad By cool showers and can spark A glorious birth, a happy grin. 10) Don't fret with feverish heat Fill our bosoms with kindly looks ; Let loose thy feelings flow like brooks God's creation, thou kindly treat; Dry bare cracked earth grovels in gloom Let colorful cool everywhere bloom. 3rd April, 2015 Somaseshu Gutala
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