THE TALE OF A DOCTOR-WIFE (A HUMOROUS POEM)

                      1)             As a doctor she earned name and fame
                                She hiked her fee and none to blame
                                A stingy woman with growing greed
                                Not many children she has to feed.                
  
                   2)          Her husband is a teacher poor
                                An innocent guy at heart so pure           
                                His weakness lies in eating more
                                A hearty glutton up to the core.

                   3)         His  wife viewed him with angry frown
                               When ever he came from his town
                               As day by day he did grow fat
                               About his weight he never thought.

                   4)        She cut his daily portion down
                              "Don't eat too much", she roared with frown
                              The teacher's belly yearned for more
                               He waited till she crossed the door.

                    














                 5)              Out he went to have his fill
                                  A lot of dishes gave him thrill
                                 The doctor-wife found out his plot
                                  For two days did she give him naught.

                 6)             She tried to cut him down to size
                                 With her clinical techniques wise
                                 She checked his weight on weighing tool
                                 She treated him as a corpulent fool.

                 7)            She bade him do all domestic chores
                                She gave him dry bread, nothing more ;
                                The teacher went back to his town                
                                He hated her harsh commanding tone.  

                 8)           The teacher stayed in a smaller town
                               Far, far away from doctor's frown
                               Once in a month he used to meet
                               His doctor-wife with a box of sweets.

                9)          The teacher looked for recipe books
                              He keenly practiced how to cook
                             Tasty dishes in various ways
                              Immersed in cooking days and days.

              10)          He made his home a sweet retreat
                             Where he did cook many a sweet
                             He gave a few to friends to taste
                             He ate with ecstasy all the rest.

              11)          A country wench by chance he met
                             A poor widow who used to sweat
                            To tend her child she used to cook
                             A fancy for her the teacher took.

              12)         She cooked for him with superb skill
                            The teacher ate his food with thrill
                            She found her way into his heart
                             By her simple culinary art.

              13)         The teacher treated the widow's lad
                            With liberal gifts and made him glad
                            The rustic cook with her cooking ways
                            Made him enjoy her meals always.         

             14)           The doctor-wife felt little regard
                             Enraged she frowned and did discard
                             Her gluttonous husband fat at once
                             She viewed him as a useless dunce.

             15)          Far from his former wife's sharp gaze
                            Far from confusing urban maze
                            With his rustic wife in a cottage-den
                            He found at last his delicious heaven.

                                  
                     

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



                             

Note : Enjoy reading this humorous poem which is meant to entertain and not meant to hurt with disdain. There is an undercurrent of moral tone which suggests that marital happiness depends not on wealth or status but on mutual understanding and giving value to other's ideas and opinions. 

16th June, 2016                                                       Somaseshu Gutala

                                   
          
             



                                          
                            

UNDER THE BLUE BLANKET

               1)          Under this cover of darkness cool
                                   Untethered from worldly care
                                    I feel so free, some time to spare
                                    Beyond this world of rigid rules
                                    I can fly back to realms of past
                                    When men did speak from their hearts.

                    2)           Sweet moments of friendly chat
                                    Tiny scuffles and re-unions again
                                    We ignored our bitterness and pain
                                    Funny tales of a merry plot
                                    No festering jealousies and rancor crude
                                    We laughed and made our foes, our dudes.











         





                    3)            A pall of  silence  upon my eyes alight
                                    In the flood of feelings myself lost
                                    As sleepy dawn lulls me with dreams of past.
                                    My past memories relive and hold me tight ;
                                    I feel like a denizen in an alien isle
                                    None but myself to lie down and enjoy awhile.
                     
                                 
                   4)            Beyond these mocking tongues and guise
                                    Beyond this hasty world of wiles
                                    Beyond these venomous frowns and guiles 
                                    Where only outward things surprise :
                                    Far from noisy roar and confusion
                                    Far from life-draining worries and tension.
















                         

                    5)            Under this dark cover, can I pour out 
                                    The flood of grief that none can spy
                                    And release my woes with long, deep sighs
                                    The darting words and angry shouts ;
                                    Thrown out by friends like useless shit
                                    Draining our confidence bit by bit.

                    6)           Under this blanket of night unseen
                                   Let me delve my inmost feelings within
                                   Let me recall my lapses and acts of sin
                                   Feel sorry for what I have been
                                   Let me shed penitential tears free
                                   When none can mock and secretly see.

                    7)           Let me be free to love with unabashed heart
                                   With lips of intimacy can I share
                                   As she responds with loving care
                                   No prying eyes of jealousy to prick my faults
                                   Unburdened from my heavy load of grief
                                   Under this dark canopy I find much relief.


    

               
                   8)             This night not dreadful as fables say
                                     A dark blue dawn to blossom my thoughts inside
                                     A peaceful time with none beside
                                     Set free from dreary routine day
                                     The ghosts of guilt will fly away
                                     As slumber sets in to a dreamy day.
                                   
                   9)            Under this veil of shady night
                                    My heart doth yearn for God to meet
                                    A hearty prayer in silence sweet
                                    To make my consience cool and light
                                    Recalling His tales of immense grace
                                    Who guides me always in mysterious ways.

                 10)           Let me breathe in cool air of restful ease
                                   Let me relax under the starry screen
                                   As slumber weaves her web unseen
                                   Let me from dry vexations   find release
                                   I let loose my fancy to soar like a dream
                                   To show me golden worlds of joy supreme. 

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

 10th June, 2016                                                                   Somaseshu Gutala

                     

                               
     
                                  

                                     
                                   

DONKEY--DRIVERS

                       

                                           
                                                                   ( I )

         1                Yonder wander the donkey-drivers

                                    Dressed in diverse patched clothes so queer

                                    Shouting at their hard-working herd

                                    Which bear the load of red, soft earth

                                     Placed on either side of their backs in gunny bags

                                     Like panniers : they humbly pace onward

                                     Like submissive lads without any complaint --

                                     A train of donkeys with mute downcast looks ;

                                     Their masters walk behind their cavalry

                                     With canes in their hands and whistling soft ;

                                     The donkeys shed their load in a heap

                                     To go back again to get their sacks re-filled ;

                                     From morn to eve they drudge ; their masters

                                     Watch them as they drag on and nibble at

                                     The way-side grass with heads bent low ;

                       

                                                                       (  II  )

                                     The drivers shout "a-hey ! " to spur them move

                                     And at sundown the donkeys return

                                     The lads ride on them like brave knights ;

                                     A vagrant race, living in the lap of Nature ;

                                     They leave their beasts beside their tents

                                     To wander and graze freely in the lawn ;

                                     At night sitting beside their fire

                                     Smoking their raw country cigars

                                     They chit-chat in their queer rustic cant

                                     And play upon their flutes and drums

                                     Old tunes and sing old stories steeped 

                                     In mysterious times of yore when knights

                                     In search of heavenly dames and demons

                                     Rode freely like these lads upon their steeds

                                     Through different climes and wooded terrains

                                     Conferring with strangers and sages mild ;

                                     And fought dire battles with horned giants wild.

                                                         =================

              3rd June, 2016                                             Somaseshu Gutala


            Note : This poem written in blank verse portrays a common scene in villages where donkeys are still used to carry heavy bags and luggage. The boys who drive them appear very active and enthusiastic. They shout and participate in their work without showing any feeling of boredom. The donkeys are also very patient, hard-working and meek in their behavior. They are uncomplaining and accept their lot in performing burdensome work. After the work they are let loose to graze on the wild grassy plain on the outskirts of the village where the vagrant boys live in make-shift tents. The boys enjoy their leisure and ride on donkeys with a sense of thrill just like knights in the fables of the past who rode on their horses to fight with demons and  protect ladies from the clutches of these cruel monsters. The boys spend the night happily sitting around fire and singing songs about ancient heroes and feel a sense of adventure even in their humble tasks. As Robert Frost beautifully said " The fact is the sweetest dream that labor knows."  In short enjoy your work and find happiness in whatever you do.

INTIMATIONS OF NATURE (Revised )

 



             
                                               

 

                                                      
                                                                  (  I  )

                         Laugh like white pearls of fresh dew on flowers
                    When Spring brings cool refreshing showers ;
                    Open your eyes like lotus buds in fresh morn
                    When the sun shines red like golden corn ;
                    Breathe gently sensing every touch
                    Of morning breeze without hurrying much ;
                    Wake up early in morning like birds or blooms
                    Don't lie down buried in slumber's gloom ;
                    Enjoy every sip of morning coffee
                    In every sip, fresh warmth with a sense of glee ;
                    Unfold the dreams like pea-cock's rain-bow feahers
                    Blend hopes with earnest efforts together ;
                    Compose they wandering mind calm and crystal-clear
                    Like whispering waters rippling near ;
                    Laugh untarnished by scheming thoughts
                    A self-made den of evil wrought.

         
   


  



                          
     



                                                    (II )

                    How cheerful looks ev'ry bloom and blade of grass
                    Not sullen filled with feelings gross
                    They smile even in scorching weather dry
                    Till they fade away with a gentle sigh ;
                    How birds do fly like angels agile
                    Flying from branch to branch with no sense of guile ;
                    Though ringed with thorns smile like a rose
                    Hope shines forth soon through darkened woes ; 
                    Little monkeys frolic and leap with a jolly grin
                    They don't bother whether they lose or win ;
                    How fish enjoy swimming through purling streams
                    With glistening bodies in sun-lit beams ;
                    How children play laughing with loudest noise
                    A sense of care-free ease rings through their voice ;
                    How squirrels frisk with dynamic spirit
                    Arouse thyself, face life with hope and grit.

                                              ( III )

                    Each and every herb holds some lesson
                    Unfold thy bosom's inner vision ;
                    Nature, the greatest scripture in universe
                    Not to be found in base pleasures of thy purse ;
                    Explore more truths undiscovered by you
                    Expand thy view and start on a journey new ;
                    Mere wandering from place to place like a fool
                    Will not afford true joy and conscience cool ; 
                    Treat Mother Nature with a compassionate heart 
                    Generous gift of God given to us unsought ; 
                    Hurt not your pets for devilish pleasure
                    If not, you have to pay and have to suffer ;
                    Treat them with affection and caring love
                    Let them be free, uncaged and let them move ;
                    Run like a fawn breathing fresh mountain- air
                    Bond with Nature, so beautiful and fair ! 

                                      
 

                              
                                                   ( IV ) 
                                                          

                   Nature's most precious gifts we plunder with guile                                                In most cunning ways with our modern style

                   The beasts that yield sweet milk, we tend

                   Once old, to butcher's knife we send ;

                   Dwell on gracious God's plenteous store

                   Given unasked with His mercy galore ;

                   Let's not befoul the air with dust and vapors impure

                   Our health spoiled by ailments beyond the cure ;

                   Let's not kill the creatures in waters clear

                   Polluting our life source, the rivers near ;

                   A heinous slaughter of innocent souls

                   Is this our life's chosen ultimate goal ?

                   Let's not disturb Nature's tranquility 

                   With blaring sounds of Satanic revelry ;

                   Let not our craze for pleasures destroy this earth

                   The only place where beings take their birth ;

                   Protect our planet or we will perish

                   A life in harmony with Nature, always cherish.

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

  Note : This poem written in couplets though not comparable with Wordsworth’s well-known poem “Intimations of Immortality” ode, is inspired by the great poet’s earnest dedication to Nature whom he treated as his nurse, teacher and guide. His whole life is influenced by Nature who gave him many precious lessons and directed him to tread on the right path.  He has such an intense attachment with Nature that every herb and flower touched his heart moving him to tears. In the modern materialistic age we have become too thick-skinned to feel and experience such noble sentiments on seeing Nature. But it is an undeniable fact that having intimate connection with Nature improves our health and gives us peace and joy. That is why our ancestors deified Nature and  expressed their gratitude in a devotional manner. Even scientists gave a strict note of warning on destroying and polluting natural resources. Let us at least for our survival realize the importance of Nature and try to protect her purity and not destroy her for our temporary and materialistic pleasures. We revere gods only when we revere the gifts of God.

     23rd May, 2016                                          Somaseshu Gutala