WHO CAN SURPASS THEE, LORD!

                     

1)  Thou created this universe vast

      With so many planets and twinkling stars

      A magic web beyond our estimate far

      A maze of systems with rhythmic orbits fraught  

      Ever expanding mysterious state

      Thy mighty skills who can surpass, my Master great!

2)  Creator of wonderful innumerable things!

     Undeciphered by our frail mortal eye

     With sense-bound knowledge in vain we try to spy;

      From largest beings to microscopic things

      How life doth move in so many sentient ways

      Even in inert objects seen Thy miraculous sway.

3)   In every tiny atom Thy glory shines

       Nature’s laws reflect Thy wonderful skills

       In colorful flowers, birds, seas and hills

       Thy artistic powers sublime and divine

       In every species as astounding variety

       Coupled with beauty and multiplicity.

4)   Master poet, painter and architect great!

      Who can describe Thy innumerable powers?

       Beyond our count as stars and spring-tide showers;

       Beyond our fancy Thy exalted state

       Both fair and ferocious forms co-exist

       Thy creation, a magnificent unending list.

5)   Lord of Music, Dance and celestial Sounds

      The whole creation from Thee rose;

      Thy heavenly melodies whoever knows?

      Thy force makes spheres revolve within their bounds;

      Like sounds that fit in well with rhythmic strain

      Music, a blessed gift to feel Thy forms divine.

6)    Under Thy control rules almighty Time

       Making planets obey Thy ordained laws;

       In fixed paths revolve without any pause;

       A plan divine with universal vision sublime

       Time’s origin and underlying laws who can trace

       Our lives depend on Thy providence and grace.

7)    Noblest scientist with unparalleled brain

       Thy deepest mysteries we can’t unravel and pry

       How many billions of years mankind may try;

       Our greatest inventions, mere tiny grains;

       Thy splendid acts in this universe vast

       Each being, a world with secrets beyond our thought.

8)    Greatest physician who cures all our woes

        Thy sacred names enough to cure our mortal pains

        Our mental tensions and struggles restrain;

        A bundle of miracles Thy creation shows;

        Death’s healing touch delivers us at last

        To reach Thy feet, our protector Thou art.        

 9)  Thy bounteous grace and blessings transcends our view

       Thou feedest countless beings seen and unseen;

       Filling this earth with fresh vegetation green;

       Slaking this earth with cool showers and dew;

       What gratitude in words can we convey?

       Ere Thy motherly affection except to pray.

10)   Sustainer of all worlds! Thy blessings inspire

         Noble saints to find Thee in loving sacrifice;

        The common lot filled with greed and avarice

         Exploit Thy gifts with insatiable desire;

         Nature’s silent admonitions they never heed

         Rebelling against Thy rules with ignoble deeds.

11)   For which all have to suffer bearing the blame     

        Our mad pursuits, killings, cravings and craze

        Have thrown this world into confusing maze;

        Of mortal agony and spiritual shame;

        One look of Thine enough to smash this sphere;

        A small virus, enough to induce terrorizing fear.

12)   So many prophets beholding the space

         Divinely inspired poured out their hearts

        With grateful tears in hymns with devotion fraught;

         Ev’n scientists struck by wondrous laws and ways

         Felt themselves humbled by Thy transcendent spell

         Thy all-pervading source vibrates in every cell.

13)   Kings and tyrants swollen with power and pride

         Ruling this earth deemed themselves as gods

         Exposed to plots and wretched wars perished in sod

         Their ancient tongues and their cultures too died;

         Their monumental tombs are no more seen;

         Our worldly possessions vanish like dew on the green.

14)   We owe all to Thee, Mercy incarnate!

         Our ignorance makes us forget Thy rewards

         In greedy struggle Thy warnings we discard

         For our wilful blunders we blame our fate

         Thou art our final goal and primeval cause;     

         Thy noblest state and glory who can surpass?

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

         30th April,2020                             Somaseshu Gutala 

  

   Note : In many ancient religious texts, God's greatness and glory are admired with mystic wonder in poetic lines showing their deep devotion and immense gratitude. In William Blake's lines: " To see world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wild flower/ Hold eternity in the palm of your hand/ And eternity in an hour." In the "Book of psalms" in the Old Testament God's glory and splendid beauty of creation are described in psalms from 146 to 150. All these five psalms begin with the line "Praise the Lord!"  In Rigveda many hymns were composed glorifying the forces of Nature like Indra (Powerful Lord of all gods), Surya (Sun God) Agni( Fire God) and Varuna( Protector and upholder of Cosmic and Moral law). Their divine inspiration made them see the divinities and describe their powers in beautiful mystic language thousands of years ago. Contemplating on God's supreme abilities and His divine plan behind creation and His merciful gifts to all, make us realize His glory at least to some extent and also make us understand our real status in this vast universe. 

               

                                                                                          

              

TEMPTATIONS

 

 

                          

     

 

                                     

                      

So many sages often warn Thee, Oh fool!

Yield not to senses and become their tool

They drag you down like glittering pools

They burden you with woes and make thee a mule;

Like devil’s floating fire they tempt your eye

An unending series of struggles till you die;

Distant pools of nectar in deserts dry;

They make you run and cheat you to cry;

A tempting carnivorous coiled net they spread

And catch you unawares and suck you dead;

Like gigantic waves they lift you high

And dash you down to drown and die;

In dreamy world too, none they spare

Pouncing like hounds your bosom to tear;

Buffeted by winds and rain rocks may break

But not these growing desires, you fool, awake!

They bloat your mind with egoistic pride

Feigning like friends, they promise and misguide;

In their Circean smiles do not fall

They make you a brute, a life-long thrall

And once you are in, no passage out

Into dying dungeon you move, no doubt;

They tickle your mind with rosy lips

They make you do unpardonable slips

And mock at your failures till the end

Of your life with no chance to mend;

They spur your passions, greed and lust

And make you pine and pine till you turn to dust;

A fool presumes himself a mighty man

And wastes in idle pleasures his life span;

                              ( I I )

A false fantasy-heaven they tend to create

Nothing remains at last; to feel despair too late;

Like gods they seem with devilish intent

They drive you mad for vain goals hell-bent; 

They make you forget your value in fact

And drive you crazy to foolishly act;

No distinction of age and creed they find

They worm their way even into a dying mind;

They leave their marks like gashes deep;

Unfulfilled and cheated you have to weep;

They blind your vision with delusions false

They push you down, an irreparable loss;

In saintly garb sometimes they make their way

And break your conscience and lead you astray;

Temptations test even noble souls in vain

And try to damn them with material gain;

Yield not to them and entertain

You will be left with unforgettable pain;

Like weird witches of the blasted heath

Their foul intentions are hidden beneath;

Their provocations seem innocent and pure

They fill your mind with greedy thoughts impure;

Like beggars who ride on wishful horses’ backs

Left at last with irrecoverable shock;

In the false mirror of your ego

Magic notions of yourself they throw

Like a drunkard unconscious of his deeds

They fill your mind with darkest weeds;

What you assume as heavenly bliss

Knocks you down into deepest abyss;

Evaluate yourself and your worth ere you aspire

Like naughty goblins they falsely inspire;

With waxen wings to soar high if you dare

You plunge yourself into darkest despair;

                        ( I I I )

No use of blaming destiny and fate

No use of cursing others about your state;

You fell into the magic trap on your own

False illusions about yourself have sown;

Entangled in your foolish hopes you waste

Your precious time and then repent too late;

Time will mock at your foolish thoughts and acts

And what you did in haste cannot retract;

You ruined yourself with false illusions

You wasted your life with these tempting visions;

What use when you wake up from your drunken sleep?

You can’t undo your acts; their fruits you have to reap; 

So many people depraved, cheated and undone

These temptations one has to resist and shun;

Seek God’s grace and listen your conscience sound

Act not in haste; think cool; be within your bounds;

Be not too proud, think not that ever you are right

Be sympathetic to others and feel their plight;

Think of your worth ere you desire in proper ways

Nothing drops from above and nothing stays.

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

   14th April, 2020                               Somaseshu Gutala

 Note :

   1)   Circean smiles -- Circe, a sea-nymph in Greek mythology. She with her knowledge of herbs and potions, used to tempt sailors and transform them into animals. here it means " dangerously attractive and misleading smiles." 

    2)   Devil's floating fire -- Will-O'-the-wisp is flame like vapor formed by gases in marshy places. People used to believe it was a spirit. Foolish travellers tried to follow the light which led them astray. In Latin it is called "ignis fatuus" which means "foolish fire." Here it means any "foolish impractical goal."

   3) Distant pools of nectar -- Mirage-- an optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions in a desert.

   4) Temptations test even noble souls -- refers to temptation of Christ by Satan in the desert.

   5) Like weird witches of the blasted heath -- reference to Shakespeare's play "Macbeth". Macbeth, a Scottish General,  meets three witches in a barren land while he was going to Forres where King Duncan's castle is located. They deceive Macbeth by prophesying that he was going to become the king of Scotland. 

  6)  Like beggars who ride on wishful horses' backs -- reference to a Scottish nursery rhyme"If wishes were horses, beggars would ride" which means that if wishing could make things happen, then most destitute people would have everything they wanted.

               _______________________________________

THE TALE OF RANGI, THE SERVANT MAID

    Right from her childhood she spent her days

      In backyards scrubbing and rinsing utensils

      Sweeping dusty rooms and washing clothes

      Listening to reprimands and curses crude;

      Not used to childhood pleasures and pastimes

      Not used to playing with dolls and with mates

      Not used to going to school and learning skills

     A stranger she is to letters and figures

     All her years spent in midst of dirt and grime;

     Tears welled up in her eyes when she beheld 

     Kids of her age fluttering like butterflies

     In trim, neat uniform going to school

    With shouts of mirth greeting each other;

    Her world—hard toil spent in filthy surroundings

    Her tender palms roughened with household chores

    Accustomed to daily taunts and drudgery;

    In course of time she got used to her state

    Mere complaining she thought a useless task

    She accepted her lot with a hardened heart

    She tried to find pleasure in her routine

    Though others spurned her as a servant maid

    Her drunkard father with foul threats and brutal blows

    Snatched her earnings though she protested in vain;

                                  ( I I )

   None christened her name; neighbors called her "Rangi"

   Named after the pretty goddess of wealth;

   A common background in them she found

   All poor, unlettered, migrant struggling slaves

   Compelled to forego their childhood golden years

   Compelled to drudge to help their starving families;

   Compelled to bear the burden of bludgeoning debts.

                                     ( I I I )

  Two decades went by in monotonous way

  Starting early to work and returning late;

  Though time went on with no perceptible change

  Age blossomed in her form with passing years

  Her blooming youth made her agile and   strong

  Like a wild flower with natural charm;

  Her graceful gait and her sweet rustic voice

  Her dark long hair and her dark shiny skin

  Lent her a pretty, attractive glow;

  Her earnest work and her submissive nature

  Endeared her to all as a lovable, gentle maid;

  In every wedding function and festive event

  An active role she played helping others unsought;

  She never worried about her future

  Too bleak and uncertain with no ray of hope;

  For her to get a square meal every day

  Seemed a blessing and never did she think

  About her wedding and happy settled life—

  Too far for her struggling, humble state.

  She brushed aside with empty smiles and feigned to blush

  If anyone joked about her wedding affair.

  She bid adieu to her future hopes and dreams

  Too distant and unreachable like stars;

  Behind her smiles and cheerful looks

  There lurks a passive surrender and silent gloom;

  To hide her woes she laughed and chatted in a merry vein;

  She felt happy in seeing others’ happy state;

  A gloomy future waits for her—she knows

  To stay as a maid lifelong or be a drunkard’s wife

  And slog through life bearing insults and blows;

  Like a sad refrain of an old tragic song.

  If destiny wills and smiles on her innocent face

  A simple rustic with a sympathetic heart

  May come and like her tender and gentle heart

  Untarnished by guiles and double dealing tricks;

  And feel blessed to wed her with no greedy demands

  To make his hut happy with her lovely presence;

  Let us wish her all joy and future bright

  A due reward to recompense her burdensome past.

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

       3rd April, 2020                                  Somaseshu Gutala

COVID 19, the Curse of Human Negligence

    1)     All busy life assumed a static state

            All activities came to a standstill-

            All transactions nil—no receipts and no bills;

            All confined to their homes--no sports, no debates;

            The busy roads turned silent, still and bare

                Creating rumors, wide-spread panic and scare.

   2)      All trade and business suffered huge loss

            All stocks and shares sank down; no jobs, no pay;

            No parties, no functions—none allowed to pass;

            Industries ground to a halt and no supplies;

            All systems thrown out of order in a trice.

 3)       All hospitals filled to the brim—an ordeal worse

           An acute shortage of sanitizers and masks

           Dearth of vital drugs—a difficult task;

           Prices flew sky-high beyond common man’s purse

          The people abroad could not to their countries return

           Facing so many tests and waiting for their turn.

 4)      A small insignificant microbial speck

          Shook the whole world with rapid spread

          Infecting millions and left thousands dead;  

          A virus spread from bats and none could check

          Till it became a pandemic far and wide

          Of unnatural food habits, so many died.

 5)     The virus called Corona posed a threat to men

         Changing its form in swift Protean ways

         Challenging mighty nations, it sways

         Terrorizing even terrorists’ den;

         Unclean habits and unhealthy meals

         Unnatural life style lead to risky deals.

 6)     Worse than Black Death that plagued mankind

         Worse than consumption and Cholera dire

         Worse than Swine flu that threatened the world entire

         Man for this malady cure did not find

         Covid Nineteen swooped with swift lightning speed     

         Lack of awareness to this predicament lead.

  7)   Nature questioned man’s reckless wayward ways

        Unbridled freedom results in enormous loss;

        Misuse of knowledge vast and transgressing laws

        Creates imbalance and disastrous days;

        Uncouth food habits and unclean life

        Boomerangs on man with heavy toll and strife.

  8)   Armed with vast knowledge with a sense of pride

        Man lords over Nature crossing all bounds

        His greedy acts surely on this world rebounds

        From Nature’s prying eyes no one can hide

        Exploiting and polluting Nature’s gifts

        Losing control he created a wide, wide rift. 

 9)   Man did abuse Nature’s set patterns and laws

       With selfish greed, new problems did he multiply

       Can science alone all solutions supply

       Divorced from morals and restraint, if all trespass

       The bounds and destroy every plant, bird and beast

       To fill his belly with no concern at least.

10)   We ever blame one another and never display

         Concern for global health and welfare

         We ever think of weapons, power and warfare;

         All nations now plunged in panic and dismay;

         This global menace who can stop outright?

         A tiny virus enough to break our so-called might. 

          

11)    Every deed of ours reflects in this universe

         All have to suffer for one misdeed wrought;

         Our mighty arms race no use; in crisis caught;

         Too much knowledge sans wisdom misleads—a curse;

         If we lack vision and broad look for future’s needs

         Our existence depends on our morals and deeds. 

12)     Clean habits, healthy food and peaceful mind

           Help in preventing this raging risk;

           No dallying; be cautious, alert and brisk;

           No more moving in groups, no touching; mind

           Your work at home; With Nature your bond retain

           Use your time in due way and good habits maintain.

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

       26th March, 2020                            Somaseshu Gutala

  Note : Covid-19 or Coronavirus is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome. It was first identified in Wuhan, China in December, 2019 and was recognized as a pandemic by World Health Organization on 11 th March,2020. it has spread over more than 190 countries resulting in 21,300 deaths and infecting more than four lakh people in the world.

     1)  Black Death -- Also called Bubonic Plague spread through Europe and Asia in 14th and fifteenth centuries killing more than 75 to 200 million people.

     2)  Consumption -- Tuberculosis spread widely in Europe during Industrial revolution and killed many people.

     3)  Swine Flu -- a respiratory infection caused by H1N1 virus which started from pigs. In 1919 it was first recognized as a pandemic.

     4)  Cholera --- A pandemic which started from India and spread across Western Asia to Europe, Britain and America in 19th century.

     5)  Pandemic --  A disease that is prevalent in the whole world.

     6)  Protean --- changing frequently. Derived from Proteus, a shepherd of the sea creatures , a servant of the Greek Sea God Poseidon. He had the power of changing into any shape to avoid capture by his enemy.

                  +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

           

              

          

WAITING IN THE HOSPITAL

 

           

                             

               A sullen silence reigns around

               Like mute statues frozen in ruined cells

               Patients transfixed await in lengthy queues

               Like flitting Robots the nursing staff hasten

               Indifferent to anxious imploring eyes;

               The doctors rush with dangling stethoscopes;

               The patients under the intensive care

               Lie like waxen figures in drowsy state

               Their limbs fitted with so many tubes and plasters

               A pungent chemical smell spreads around;

               Swinging betwixt relief and relapse

               They stare at their destiny unknown

               Waiting for their ultimate fate

               Waiting for the unknown shores and sunsets;

               Waiting for final relief from gasping strain

               Debilitated by age and daily stress

               They lie buried in dubious, dreary state

               Like fallen branches after a stormy gale.

               Their kith and kin spend anxious hours

               Unaware of their dear people’s health

               Stay far away huddled on the floor

               Or sit stooping in cramped chairs

               With vacant gaze and unsolved puzzles

               With sleepless eyes afraid of nightmarish dreams

               With shuddering hearts hanging like broken webs;

               The cries of suffering pain stabs their silence

               And wailing sounds shatter their rising hopes;

               A helpless, sad burden weighs down their hearts

               No flood of tears lighten their suffering state

               No comforting words relieve their sad, sad plight

               They wait like mute figures in suspense-shock;

               With frozen memories and impending gloom

               Like stranded pilgrims in disastrous doom;

               Dumbfounded they drag their slow-moving hours

               Waiting how long with no assuring hope

               Each embedded in critical unresolved crisis.      

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

            20th March,2020                          Somaseshu Gutala

                  

         

             

       

THE SIXTH FINGER

   

                                          

    

1)              Unwanted member of this world

                 Unrecognized part of  this society

                 Somehow emerged upstart in curious shape

                 A supernumerary burden

                 Mocked at and spurned by everyone

                 Questioning its unwarranted existence.

                 Is this protuberance, a lucky sign?

                 An emblem of the angelic soul on the earth?

                 Like fabled giant race of Ecuador

                 Or polydactyl figures carved in petroglyphs

                 What purpose to this ugly misshapen form

                 Who made this vain meddlesome shape?

                 A superfluous outgrowth with no specific goal                               

 2)              A freak experiment by Nature done

                  An unusual effort with no obvious aim

                  To show her art at abnormal level

                  An intruding link in Nature’s plan

                  Going out of order with clue not given;

                  But not of any use except to show

                  Nature’s unpredictable shaping skills

                  The sixth finger, a specimen strange

                  A failed experiment beyond our range

                  Nature’s prank challenging logic blind.

 3)              No part to play except to show mere presence

                  To show Nature’s unique deviating ways

                  Unforeseen changes and diversities

                  Like bizarre modern surrealistic works

                  With multi-layered meanings hidden;    

                  May be a warning sign exhorting crazy man

                  Who plays with Nature’s ways and means

                  To shape unnatural odd things around

                  To obstruct natural flow of things and turn

                  Men to mere sixth-finger statured level.

      Note:  
               Giant race -- refers to Waorani tribe in Ecuador who have six fingers and toes. They were known for their immense strength and violent nature. In ancient culture there was a belief that persons born with six fingers were bound to be successful.

             Petroglyphs --- The Pueblo people living in New Mexico had six fingers. The rock carvings in New Mexico shows people with six fingers in both hands. The Pueblo people living in Chaco Canyon (new mexico) had six fingers. In South America there was a tribe called Ugha Mongualala who believed that gods visited the earth every six thousand years. In tales they are described with light skin, thick beard and had six fingers and six toes. The six fingers are associated with something divine and spiritual.

          Petroglyphs -- rock carvings are seen in New Mexico in places like Cave of the Giant Sloth in Chili and in Indian Creek State Park.              

       

          Polydactyle --- having extra fingers.This symptom is called Polydactyly.g          this is derived from two Greek words; Poly means "many" and Daktylos means "finger."

         Sixth finger statured level -- means merely a position with no prominent role.

                              

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


     13th March, 2020                                                 Somaseshu Gutala