One year gone, still

                  

                                                          

                                               ( I )

            One year gone, still

            Your fond memories fill

            Our bosoms with deep, painful loss;

            Still, we recall your happy smiles

            Your jovial tales, your witty remarks

            Your close intimacy with one and all;

            Like a sparkling flash you vanished

            Leaving a sense of void within;

           We feel as if we lost our prime support

           Who nourished our hopes and mutual rapport. 

                                  ( II )

          One year gone, still

          Your fond memories fill

          Your friends’ bosoms with gratitude;

          Still, they remember your help and wise guidance;

          You expected nothing in return

          A friendly smile enough you felt;

          Though some turned indifferent and cold

          Cordial relations with all you tried to hold; 

                          ( I I I )

          One year gone, still

         Your neighbours feel thy absence;

         Still, they acknowledge your liberal help;

         Your encouraging words that gave them

         A new hope of their bright future.

         With thy wise knowledge and mature outlook

         You helped them a lot to set right their ways

         They ever recall your positive thought and grace.

                                      (I V)

         One year gone still

         We can’t forget your gentle and kind words

         Your wisdom and caring nature

         Your desire for perfection in whatever you tried;

         Never were you proud of your status and rank;

         Never we forget your liberal and helpful deeds

         Never forget though time moves fast;

         Your noble words and kind deeds forever last

         Inspiring our efforts and thoughts

        Time can’t erase your memories from our hearts.

             

                   (Dedicated to my dear brother-in-law)

20th January, 2024.                                    Somaseshu Gutala

                                                  

 

       

 

 

 

        

 

 

A City Tour

 

                                        

                              

                     

                                 

                           

 

                   

       

1.    The guide was a learned person and a friendly one

A polyglot he was with a gentle sense of fun;

He seemed to know the history and stories

Of great rulers and spoke with effortless ease;   

He spoke greatly of kings and their ancestral line

Who were noble, kind-hearted and fine;

They made their country rich and reforms wrought

Without changing basic culture and thought;

 

2.    They owned rich mansions and palaces huge

With crystal pillars inlaid with gems and gold

And year by year their wealth grew manifold;

So many people came there to find jobs and refuge

Obeying rigid rules and hard, working hours

Building luxurious mansions and towers

The kings, though strict, put their wealth to good use;

Noble values and discipline they did infuse.

 

3.    The lovely palaces with royal symbols and turrets fine

The leaping figures of steeds and polished pillars round

We glanced from distance from the palace ground

With so many rooms and terraces in pretty designs

We watched with wonder though not allowed inside;

We learnt a lot about royal glory from our guide;

The lovely creepers and flowers carved with intricate art

With gilded pillars and arches beautified this spot.

 

4.    We travelled through the winding lanes of the old town

Lined with rows of old houses muddy-brown

And most of them deserted like temples old

Left as exhibits for tourists to behold

Their simple structures seemed plain and gross

With faded colors, broken windows and walls.

Like visions in a dream, they take us back to past

When people tended their flocks in the desert vast.

 

5.    The streets flanked by shops and stalls that sold

Costly jewels, gems and diamonds set in gold

Showcased necklaces, girdles and stone-set rings

A sparkling world of wealth with beaded gems on strings.

Various items and spices were neatly arranged in rows

Sweet smelling perfumes of musk, saffron and rose.

Tourists tempted by heaps of saffron and spices sweet

As tokens of their visit bought a few, as vendors greet.

 

6.    Circling the beach grand luxurious hotels seen

A perfect blend of ambiance beside waters blue-green;

Surrounded by palms and lawns grown with superb skill

Five-star hotels and villas with fountains and rills;

Young people swim and glide with vibrant roar

As foaming waves compete caressing the sandy shore;

The spacious villas seem like visions in a dream

A wonder to look at built in unique ways supreme. 

 

7.    The new township with ultramodern designs

With steep skyscrapers illumined bright

In various geometrical designs made a pretty sight

Spurred by new technological innovations shine;

With branded cars plying on roads smooth and wide

A noisy, busy world filled with swelling tide

Of workers from various nations from different fields.

Enriching this rich state to grow with greater speed.

 

8.    Despite its changing modern look the city revealed

Her traditional culture and vision in various fields

Her spacious museums, industries and trade

The harmonious blend of past and present displayed

With wonderful monuments, towers and treasures

A gorgeous city fraught with luxurious pleasures

Kudos to rulers, innovators and workers great

For changing this desert region into a flourishing state.

                  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

17th January, 2024                  Somaseshu Gutala

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ode to Burj Khalifa

     

              

                                  

 

                

Mosque of Samaara

                                     

Trajan's column depicting Roman fighters in Dacian Wars

Carved figures on Marcus Aurelius column

                          

                       

 1.    Thou, King of towers, beside the oil-rich shore

Holding thy bejeweled crown so high

Almost touching the dark star-spangled sky

The glorious man-made structure all adore

As if asserting the mighty power of man

Vying with Nature with his skills and plans;

A surprising monument of wonder thou art

Blending intricate systems and aesthetic art.

Blending hard work and indomitable will

A captivating spectacle of creative thrill.

 

2.    So many thousands’ collective industry and dream

So many billions spent to shape this scheme;

Shaped like a desert flower with a sturdy base

To withstand weather’s unpredictable ways.

Like a Titan majestic revealing man’s desire

To reach unreachable heavenly spires.

Like the mosque of Samaara with exquisite design

With reinforced solid strength you do shine;

Furnished with shops, restaurants, homes and pools

A vertical world with luxuries cosy and cool. 

 

3.    Though not so artistic like Trajan’s Tower

Depicting in details Roman victories and power

Or of Marcus great column with spiral relief

Asserting conquest of northern tribes in brief.

Though not flashy like Eiffel with romantic charm

You transcend all in height and glorious form.

An affluent image of knowledge and power

On this dry desert made a heavenly bower

A true symbol of man’s efforts to make this spot;

A living wonder with all heavenly pleasures brought.

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

 Mosque of Samaara: A mosque in Samaara, Iraq which was built between 848-851 by the Abassid Caliph. At the time of construction, it was the world's largest mosque (171 ft or 52 meters tall).

Trajan’s Tower: A Triumphal column in Rome, commemorating Trajan’s victory in Dacian (Romanian) wars depicting the scenes of war and daily life of ancient Rome. It was 125ft. tall and was built between 106-113 A.D.

Marcus great Column: A Roman victory column (97 ft tall) depicting the     victory of Marcus Aurelius over the North Germanic tribes. The construction of this column was begun in 176 A.D. and completed in 193 A.D.

Eiffel Tower: A wrought iron Observation and Broadcasting Tower in Paris. It was named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel whose company designed and built the tower from 1887 to 1889. It is 330 meters tall with 81 stories and is the tallest structure in Paris.

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

13th January 2023                                     Somaseshu Gutala

 

 

 

 

A Note on Burj Khalifa, Dubai

     

                          

                                 

             

Burj Khalifa is the tallest skyscraper with residential, commercial and scientific uses. The construction of this megalithic and marvelous skyscraper was started on 12^th January 2004 and was officially opened on 4^th January 2010.

 It is eight hundred and twenty-eight meters (2716.5 ft) in height with more than 200 levels and has 163 habitable levels. It gives a panoramic view of Dubai. It has world’s highest elevator situated inside a rod at the top of the building. Of the 163 floors the public can go up to 154^th floor. On the 148^th floor, there is a sky observatory, the world’s highest observation deck at a height of 556 meters or 1823 feet. Business celebrities and film stars (like Shilpa Shetty and Mohan Lal) own properties in Burj Khalifa.

 Burj Khalifa is praised as a “Vertical city” and as “a living wonder.” It has nine hundred residential units (one, two, three and four bed-room flats) from 19 to 108 levels, and nearly ten thousand people can stay there. It has 16,000 bath rooms in flats, offices and public areas. It is three times the height of Eiffel Tower in Paris. Nearly seventeen billion people visit this building every year and 621 million dollars is earned as ticket revenue per year.

EMAAR Properties, the world’s largest real estate company is the master developer of Burj Khalifa. Adrian Smith, Chief Engineer of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill company in Chicago designed this tower. He is also the architect of Sears (Willis) Tower in Chicago. This design was derived from the Islamic architectural design of the great mosque of Samarra in Iraq and from the shape of the desert flower, Hymeno Callisor or spider lily. William Frazier Baker, an American structural engineer planned the unique hexagonal core structure of this tallest skyscraper. Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ( 7 Sep.1948-13 May 2022), Leader of Abu Dhabi and former President of U.A.E. provided aid in building this structure. As a token of honor and gratitude, this building was named as Burj Khalifa which means “King’s Tower.”

 In this tower are located hotels, restaurants, offices and residences. It has nine hundred residential units, and ten thousand people can stay here. Observation decks for tourists are at 124, 125 and 148 levels. Level 125 shows the special features of Arab art and culture. The visiting hours are from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. on weekdays and from 5.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. during weekends. In the evening Burj Khalifa lit with laser lights sparkles with changing colors with a vibrant glow. 

Located at the foot of the Burj Khalifa there is the Dubai Fountain, the world’s tallest fountain. The fountain jets up to 22,000 gallons of water up to a height of 140 meters at a time. This fountain was constructed in 2009 on the 12-acre Burj Khalifa Lake. It illuminates the surroundings with 6,600 lights and 50 colored projectors. This colorful musical fountain works every thirty minutes from 1.00 p.m. to 1.30 p.m. and in the evenings from 6.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. daily. On Fridays the fountain works from 1.30 p.m. to 2.00 p.m. only. All shows at the fountain are free of charge.

The famous “Armani Hotel” designed by fashion icon, Georgio Armani, occupies up to eighth floor with suites on 38^th and 39^th levels that is eleven floors.  Adjacent to this tower is seen “Dubai mall”. Burj Khalifa is cleaned four times a year. It takes three months to complete one cleaning cycle.

The modular spiraling Y-shaped plan helps to reduce the wind force on the tower. The telescopic spire is 200 meters long and houses communications equipment. Nearly four thousand tons of structural steel was used in construction of the telescopic spire. The top thirty floors contain electrical sub-stations, water tank pumps, air-handling units which operate the tower. The top four floors are meant for communication systems. The town’s water system supplies 9,46,000 liters of water daily to this tower. Fire safety and speed evacuation measures are taken as precautionary measures. In this tower there are 57 elevators and eight escalators. 

The Dubai Creek Harbor Observation tower of 928 meters height (2,717 ft) is going to be built in Dubai and work is now in progress. It will have 210 floors and will be higher than Burj Khalifa by 100 meters. The Jeddah Tower (3308 ft) 1008 meters high in Saudi Arabia under construction will become the tallest building structure in future. It will be 173 meters or 568 feet taller than the Burj Khalifa (828 meters or 2716 ft).

Burj Khalifa is truly one of the wonderful marvels created by masterminds which displays their talent, art and advanced technology. Burj Khalifa has become the iconic symbol reflecting Dubai's culture, technological progress, modern sophistication, tradition, commercial activism and eco-friendly development.

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

     12th January, 2024                    Somaseshu Gutala

This Precious Gift

 

               

                             

                                      

          This precious gift with which I play

             A trivial toy, a meaningless sport;

             Indeed, throwing away the costly pearls

             Into cinders of nothing; none to account.

             This precious breath we waste in empty sounds.

             To pollute and slander others.

             This gift which can reveal the spirit

             Beneath our senses, meaningful depths;

             This precious strength and spark we consume.

              In degrading ways, self-imprisoned idle pleasures

              Leaving behind, alas, an inner penury.

               As age engulfs with fangs of disease

               We curse in vain our crooked past

               Spent in worthless acts at expensive cost.

               This boon, this only chance with reason fraught

               We spend like airy nothing in worthless ways;

               The secrets of existence unexplored

               Without a solid foundation we hope

               To build our uncertain future;

               Without understanding Nature

               Without thrill of noble thoughts and devotion

               We drive our days downhill to doom;

               No lotus within our bosom blooms

               No coiled secrets do we unwind;

               In wretched chains we ourselves bind;

               Oh God! How can we account for thy gifts!

               A rudderless journey adrift;

               Time’s nearing threat we hear

               Till now our vision and goal unclear;

               What ransom avails to clear our debt?

               Once lost is lost forever. What our fate?

               We blame to justify our erring ways;

               Do we deserve in truth almighty grace?

               This precious gift we ought to care and know

               Of what we are, a spark of divine glow;

               With mercy, love and piety dwell

               Thy life, a kernelled fruit but not a shell

               Work first, you need not ask;

               God knows His mighty task.

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

        31st December, 2023                         Somaseshu Gutala

 

       

              

              

              

             

In the Prayer Room

        

                                                         

                                     

                                  

1. Like a parrot that imitatively recites

    Without inner throbbing of calm delight

    I chant thy sacred name with rhythmic voice;

    No surging feeling except loud noise;

    I wave around oil lamps before thy image

    No figure divine reflects in this fleshy cage

    My worship turned a mere daily routine

    I know not what true prayer means.

 

2       Like a humming gnat hidden from light

  A weird monotony far from Thy sight

  A cracked bell, not responsive to Thy call;

 How can I cut through this ignorant iron wall?

 My soul deaf to Thy melodious charm

 My soul blind to Thy dazzling form;

 How to move on this rugged path so long?

 How to cross this self-made barrier so strong?

 

3.    No signs of devotion I did feel

No gushing streams of swelling zeal;

No thrill of entering spiritual spheres

Forgetting worldly worries and fears;

No vibrant feeling flowing through my veins;

No placid contemplation serene;

Have my feelings dried up with growing age?

What is the use of reading many a page?

 

4.    What visions and dreams those wise men had!

How they felt elated and extremely glad!

Forgetting this world how happily they sang

With spontaneous bliss as temple bells rang;

What immortal lyrics they wrote thrillingly divine!

Drunk deep with devotion’s ambrosial wine.

Transcending poverty and worldly woes

How they prayed earnest with no splendid show!

 

5.    Never to such sublime level do I aspire

A tiny touch of grace, oh Lord! I desire;

A few moments of devotion I need

To soothe my soul, Oh Lord! my prayer heed;

What use mere rituals and reciting hymns?

What use mere reading bulky volumes grim?

Lift my soul unruffled in meditation calm;

Fill my soul with Thy peace-giving gracious form.

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

    18th December, 2023                      Somaseshu Gutala

 

 

 

 

 

The Kitchen-- Queen

         

                     

                   

            

1.    A useful invention thou art

A concrete help to culinary art

To lighten dreary household work;

No need for us our duty shirk;

A gift of science to every 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 and 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;

Everything is 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 precious 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.

            **********************

9th December, 2023                    Somaseshu Gutala