ONCE IN A WHILE .........

    It's  good to leave your comfort zone,
    Once or more in a while,
    And travel to far  off  regions,
    To witness different spots of Nature.

 It's awesome  to visit new places,
Meet people with varied cultures,
 Hear  unfamiliar  languages,
While moving among strangers.

  Yet pleasant is it to find always,
 The land with its usual features,
The earth, the same beautiful being,

 Calling you from distant corners.

The sky  same shades of blue,
The sun as bright and dazzling,
The moon same placid and calm,
The air as cool and refreshing.

The  sprightly waves of the sea,
 Calling everyone on the shore,,
With promises of untold  pleasure,
And adventure felt never before.

The shouts of joy and  merriment,,
Of those venturing on tides,

Sound similar in  every language,

 As expressions of natural emotions.

 Returning home at the end of the trip,
Though tired, I was feeling refreshed,  
 As the mind was busy enjoying,
 Memories of the pleasant outing.

It's cool to be home after wandering,
 And  seeing Nature's varied forms,
Her amazing charm and magnificence
 Her all-embracing benevolence

Peace ---

                

                      She is  truly  a beauteous being,,
                      With a sweet countenance, 
                     Calm and composed and genial,
                      Assurance of safe existence.

                      With her around, you feel secure,
                      Fearless, comforted and blessed,,
                      God and Nature providing  you all, 
                      To live in full contentment.

                      You may think she is someone,
                      Sought after and loved by all, 
                    As no one can  like to suffer  forever 
                      Choosing a path leading to unrest.

                    It's  strange enough but sadly true, 
                    There are  some who detest her too,
                    Swear to uproot her very existence,
                        By nasty weapons of violence. 

                    But I know this ugly  warfare,
                    Is not going to last for long, 
                    As sensible people across the world
                     Are determined to fight this evil.

                   And surely, will peace  soon prevail,
                   With goodwill as its core  concern, 
                  As  that alone can  save   mankind, 
                   Ensuring its perfect wellbeing.
     

       
        

LET THERE BE PEACE

     

    Here I am to sing a prayer,

    To the gracious God above,

    To bless our beautiful earth 

    With eternal peace and love.

    I pray there be peace  around, 

    In the skies and ethereal space, 

    On the vast lands and deep oceans,

    With their countless creatures.

    May it  be among animals and birds, 

    Trees and herbs and ground creepers, 

    May it pervade the whole universe,

          And help its inmates to survive and flourish. 

            But above all things here mentioned,

            May it   settle deep in the mind of Man,

            Making him aware of its supreme value,

            As fountain-head of true happiness.

            I know,  in these  tumultuous  times

            Songs of peace  would be hardly audible,

            But believe, as well, that love and peace,

            Never can be redundant or undesirable.

           Hence, I am keen to celebrate this day

         Promoting  bonhomie in the whole world

             Join me if you  like this campaign 

                And together shall we carry it on.

URI TERROR STRIKE --- HEIGHT OF COWARDICE

 Uri  Terror Strike---

 Monday, Sept  19 /16








          Yet another bloody episode,

          In the nasty drama,

          Being directed,

          From across the border.

           Waves of shock and anger,

           Are running across,

          The length and breadth,

           Of the nation.

           How heinous and  cowardly, 

           To target soldiers in their sleep!
           No words are hard enough,

           To condemn an action so mean.

           All that can be said for now is ,

           The martyrs' souls may get peace, 

           And the perpetrators of such crime,

           Be treated with befitting revenge.

            

           


            

My First Teachers

             TEACHERS' DAY

         Here are these few verses,
         Dedicated to my first teachers, 
        Who taught me even before,
         I was able to reciprocate.

       My mother  who was second --
       To none but  Nature herself,
       Who taught me to express myself ,
       With just a few gestures.
      

          When I could express myself ,
          Only through  a few signs, 
           Sometimes with sweet smiles, 
           Sometimes with loud cries.  

           But she could understand all,
          Without  my uttering a word,
          And  sense my humblest  need, 
          As if it were her own.

          My Father, who helped me enter,
          The vast world of knowledge,  
          Starting with the first alphabet, 
          To all about the three Rs. 

           Having made me familiar with, 
            Letters, numbers and  figures,
           He took me by hand one morning,  
           To a school for formal learning.

           And that was a new beginning, 
           But  not the end of  their role, 
           As mentors and guides to me, 
              In facing life's ordeals.

           Till the close  of their  own  times,
           They kept enriching  my mind, 
           With precious pearls of  wisdom, 
            They themselves had gathered.

            These precious gems of wisdom, 
             I  treasure as priceless assets, 
             I'll preserve  with pride always,  
             As long as this life permits.

            For though the teachers  depart,
            The legacies they leave live  on,
            And carried forward in time,
           To benefit generations to come.



    

   


      

Ode to the Holy Ganga

       Hail to you, O holy  Ganga , -
       Merely a river you never have been, 
       Darling daughter of the mighty Himalayas,
       A doting mother to countless children.

    Descending from   heavenly heights,
    Like a playful, agile girl child,             
    Out on an adventure spree,
    Ever in search of fun and frolic.

     From your snow-capped pristine abode,
     You rush out carving your own  route,
     Skipping gleefully on mountainous  rocks, 
     Jumping daringly into dangerous ravines.

      Traversing  through alpine forests,,
      And rough, unfriendly,  tough terrains,,
      Emerging cheerfully safe out forever,
    Filling the environs with melodious chants.


     The childlike mirth and merry movement,
     Slowly  gives way to  mature   gestures,
     And  as a lady of elegance and grace, 
     You enter regions of plain landscapes.

 

        Taking onward  your eventful  journey,
        You cover more than a thousand miles,  
        Flowing   elegantly with graceful charm,
        Prior to plunging into the vast ocean. 

         All along this  long  trajectory,
         You  provide nectar-like waters,
        Sustaining living beings on your way 
        And even those that are out of sight. 

       Since  time immemorial in  the history 
        You have been nurturing this land of ours
       Making it beautiful, cultured and  rich 
       With gems of material and spiritual wealth.

        I  bow to you,  O gracious Goddess!
        With  deep reverence and gratitude, 
        Pray go on blessing  us as kindly,        
        As you have been doing for countless ages.

Picture Credit--   eUttaranchal.com, EXOTIC UTTARAKHAND





    

Rain , Rain , Go Away........

      Hey Rain!  A blessing though you are,
     You  bring  not   the same cheer always,
       Why behave rather  madly  at times,

       Like an enemy practising vengeance?

      True, you arrive with soothing relief,
      When the earth is all  parched up,
       Its creatures  desperate and famished,
      Praying for mercy all day and night.

     Then you descend down from the sky,
     Like  a shower of  sweet nectar,  
     Sprinkled over the dying  landscape,
      Reviving its life with timely succour.

      But this bonhomie does not  last long,
       When you shed off your sweet appearance,
      Turning  hostile and  deadly violent,
      With all the fury of a callous marauder.
 
         And  start unleashing   havoc all around,
         Right from the hills to the deep valleys,
         Down the  planes damaging rich crops,
         Ravaging animals and human habitats.

         With thunder, cloudbursts, and torrents,

        Submerging villages, fields,  hamlets,
         Blocking hill roads with frequent landslides,
       Collapsing bridges with vehicles on them.

          Trees, men, animals being inundated,
           Carried away by monstrous waters,
          Vehicles on roads being swept away,
          Instead of reaching their destined places.

          All this arrogant show of power,,
          Is sorely condemned and despised,
          Stop this cruel  game of  death, 
          Destroying life and peace around.

        Enough of  all the  frightening  actions,
        Now put an end to this horrid  nightmare,
        And let  normalcy resume  its place,
        To repair and rebuild the huge damage.

        Else who will ever welcome you here,
        In this ravaged and lifeless land?

       who will need  your blessings even,
        If no one is left alive to re-create?                

      

The Saintly Scientist

              




                                                                

              Gifting his  'Wings of Fire ',
              To the young generation 
              The angel has taken flight ,
              To regions unknown.

            Standing in front of admiring youths,
           Enriching  them with deep knowledge,

           Advising them to aim always high,
           And toil tirelessly to reach their goals.
 .
           In rapt attention, they listened to him,
           As he was to them a living legend, 
           The  object of  utmost honour, 
           The epitome of accomplishments.

           And all so sudden that shocking collapse,
            Caused  as if with a bolt from the blue, 
            Alas ! that your end  did come  so sudden
             Leaving us poorer for the loss of a gem.

            Wonder if you're summoned  up there,
            To plan  urgently a divine project,  
          Or maybe you needed some leisure moments
            To set new notes on your favourite Veena!

             Genius and simplicity personified,  
             Words fail to measure your worth,
            Never did  you take a day off, they say, 
          As devotion to work was your prime concern.  

          A star among the scientists, patriot and saints, 
           Role model of the youth, People's President,, 
           Decked with the nation's  highest award,,   
            The spectrum of life was just perfect!

            Now Adieu ! as you make exit from here,
            To join the ranks of  the immortals there,
             We shall  look for a new star tonight,
            Added to the galaxy of the great, up there.

           For sure, you will get your  pride of place,  
           To  be with the immortals in peace,  
           And we on the earth shall find you alive,
           In the great legacy, you have left behind.
       
         
          
           






              
             

A POEM FROM GITANJALI

             I  thought  that my voyage had come to its end at the last limit of my power -that the path before me was closed , that provisions were exhausted and the time had come to take shelter in a silent obscurity .

But I find that thy will knows no end in me  , and when old memories die out on the tongue , new melodies break forth from the heart  ;and where the old tracks are lost , new country is revealed with its wonders .

Gitanjali -- xxxvii

A favourite poem from Gitanjali ----

   

      In the night  of weariness let me give myself  up  to sleep without struggle

       resting my trust upon thee.

       Let me not force my flagging spirit into a poor preparation for thy worship .

        It is thou who draw the veil of night upon the tired eyes of the day  to renew its sight 

        in a fresher gladness of awakening 

 .

                  RabindranathTagore ------    Gitanjali-- xxv

    

Being a Mother

      Motherhood --

      A blessing or a challenge?

     Or both of them finely rolled, 

     Into a status unique in itself?

    A  privilege  granted by God,

    To all females on the earth, 

    Making  them akin  to Nature,

    The matriarch of all creatures.

      She who sows the seeds of life, 

      All over  the lands and oceans,  

      Rendering  this planet  evergreen,   

      Pulsating with life and meaning.

        And Oh! This motherhood bliss!

        An emotion bordering on ecstasy, 

        Felt by all with maternal instincts,

        Be they humans, animals or birds.

        But is this joy an end  in  itself,

        Or a tough challenge in disguise?

        The beginning of  a life long strife, 

        To last for the whole of life?

          That starts  with raising the tender infants,

          Fast  as they grow into playful children, 

          Followed by wayward adolescents,                     

          Till they settle as seasoned adults. 

          Time  flies without your noticing it, 

          When they  find their wings  strong,

          And are anxious to soar even higher,

          In distant skies of their own choice.

           Watching them fly confident and free,

           My heart does swell with a queer emotion 

           What shall I call it? A humble pride,

            Or just a deep sense of satisfaction?

            So what if the nest appears empty,  

            It still  is  full of  fond memories, 

            And gifts of love and care pour in,

            Whenever I feel a need for them.

            Reason  enough to pamper myself,

            That  I haven't failed in  meeting well,

          The Sweet- sour challenges of motherhood, 

             As the essence of life forever!

                

                

                 

On Father's Day ----- A Monologue

      Father! Can you hear me?
       I yearn to speak   to you,
       If only you could answer,
       And tell me that you do.

      How blessed would I feel,
       Again  your voice to hear,
      Would rush to you as a child,
      Lost in a crowded fair.

     Though wishful dreaming it be,
    To seek your presence around,
     Having left this world for once,
     Has anyone ever returned?

      Yet, some memories  die hard,
      Dwelling so deep in the heart,
      Keep surfacing  now and then, 

      Like pictures on a movie screen.

     And what can ever silence,
     The words of  precious wisdom,
     You pronounced time to time,
     Whenever I sought your advice.
 

      Here, I am to tell you again,
     That I always  follow the path,
     You showed me  early in life,
     Believing I will never deviate.

      I  hardly know   other ways,
      To honour your loving memories,
       But  keep  your teachings in mind,
       Do what you always cherished.

      Could you hear me, dear  Father?
       Please speak, and even if you don't,
       I will presume that sure you  did,
       And blessed me in sweet silence!
   

Endlessly Enchanting ---- A Waterfall in the valley

      Behold the scenic grandeur,
      The amazing  waterfall creates,
      As if  rushing down from clouds,
      Like a stream of milky nectar.

      Emerging from secret springs,
      Hidden in the heart of hills,
      It brings abundant succour,
      To the valley all through the year.

        So flowers here bloom  unbidden,
       In countless  shapes and colours,
       Turning the valley into a rainbow,  
       Landed on the earth from heaven.

        Since  the eyes will refuse to move,
        Away from this rapturous  scene,
        Save it  in the book of  memory,
         To be enjoyed again and again.
 .

Valley of Flowers ------- A snapshot

 Right in the lap of the Himalayas,       
With snow-capped peaks  behind,
Blooms this alluring garden,  
As a unique creation of nature
           
The mystique of flowery abundance,
 Wraps the landscape in a charm,
With colours fascinating and bright,
And fragrance as a healing balm.

Nurtured amply by milky waters,
Emanating  from  mountain springs,
The flowers bloom unbidden,
Creating this magical ambience.

 Who is the  kind caretaker,

Of this  Eden on the earth,
Has anyone ever  seen him
Engaged in his sweet labour?      

Well, he may not be visible,
But one can feel   his presence,
Imprinted  inch by inch,
On this wondrous expanse.

Valley of Flowers ------ Nature's own favoured garden

From behind the dark blue hills,
 A king in golden armour,
Moves  majestically upward,       
Shooting beams of dazzling light,
Down to the farthest corner.

The rays come descending,
Gracefully on the flowery carpet,
Cautious enough not to trample --
 Even on the humblest of flowers.

The sky all  bright and  painted,
With gold and silver colours,
Emanates  heavenly grandeur,
Complementing the earth's splendour.

.

 In the heart of this divine  ambience,

As a precious jewel  in the crown,
Lies an expanse of nature's beauty 
Famed as the Valley Of Flowers.

  .

Children on the beach

      Children! how happy you are, 

       Playing on the beach so merrily,

       Leaving behind  past regrets,

       And worries of tomorrow ahead. 

       Artfully you build little sandcastles, 

       Using  utmost  interest and care,

       Decorate them with pretty seashells,

       Gathered from every here and there.

       Little do you seem to bother, 

       When the mischievous waves, 

       Rush shoreward all suddenly, 

       And wash everything out of sight.

       Yet, you continue the playful gesture,
       Without crying over  the damage,
        And begin to build all over again,
        As if it were part of the venture.

      Watching  intently from nearby,
      I can't but praise your wisdom,
      In keeping intact your resolve.
     Of not yielding before any hurdle.

      Wish we grown-ups  as well,

      Could adopt a balanced attitude,  
      To face life's odd challenges,
      With playful but persistent moves.  

A trip to the wonderland

   

        Hey !   you happy riders!
      All set for an adventure trip?
      Will you please take me along,
  Or just tell where you go galloping today?

''  Up the hills and down to the vales,
   Crossing  the streams and rivers  on the way,

   We wish to go into the dark woodland,

      Home of birds and wild animals. 

  Keen  are we  to seek  those caves,
 Where Mowgli, the jungle boy did  live,  

 With a family of wolves as their child,
And moved in the forest with all animals.

   Panthers and tigers and monkeys,
Bears, squirrels, pythons and snakes,.

Want to ensure if they can really be friends, 

Or  how he could spend his childhood there!

 we plan to go on even  farther,
As the horizon keeps calling forever,
And we,  as well,  are  keen to  find,

  If truly a fairyland exists somewhere.

   With all its mysterious castles,
   In  the midst of evergreen trees,
Laden with flowers and luscious fruits,
    We've never seen and tasted!

 Maybe there lives a demon too,
That has made the fairies captive, 

We shall fight and  chase him away,

 To set the good fairies all free!

 And  then we'll hurry homewards,
 Before the sun slips behind the  hills,
 Sure, we'll narrate to you happily
All the stories as we're back home ''





 .

Invoking the Rain gods

    Here comes the month of June 
   Carrying the sultry Summer
   With  its fire and fury,
   In full  measure.

Like the most unwanted guest,
It comes  uninvited,
And continues to overstay,
Despite the hosts' displeasure.

 Equipped with its lethal weapons,
Of  sunstroke and heatwaves,
Burning  all the land and skies,
Whatever falls in its stride.

 .

  The  landscape all  parched up,

  With countless thirsty creatures,
  Facing death-like conditions, 
   Craves for a little respite.

 Even the Sun God seems  to support,
 This  insensible show of strength, 
 Or why is fire being poured down,
 Turning the earth a boiling couldron?

 Mercy, Rain Gods! Have mercy on us,
 Rush down as kind torrents to  douse,
 The callous fire of this unkind  season,

 Restoring cool times of simple pleasures !!!

FORESTS IN FLAMES

           
             A forest on fire!
             The most terrible sight,
             Haunting one ever after,
             As a dreadful nightmare!

              Brings untold  sufferings,
            To the myriad forms of life,
             From the soft  green grass,
            To the bushes and tree lines.

              Hosts of ants and tiny  insects,
           , Bees, butterflies and  birds in nests,
             Mammals with newborn offspring,
             And even human beings close by.

               All are  madly running for life, 
 .             Here and there in  utter  distress,                                                                                                                  Looking for shelter in the very jungle
             .That had been their own sweet home.

              What caused this most terrible scenario,
              Is  a question that troubles  everyone,
             Was it  nature or some human  being,
              That planned this criminal misdoing?

                 Was it a spark created unawares,
                 By someone's acts of  negligence,
                 Or the result of a deliberate offence,
                 Planned with some selfish intent?

                Whatever the  reason be, but  now,
                 The bitter truth we sadly  face,
                 Unable are we  to fight   this  blaze,
                 However hard we go on trying.

                 Hence as the  ultimate resort,

                 We are turning to you Rain gods,
                 Pray, put an end to this suffering soon,
                By pouring your cool showers down !!!
     


       

         

         

         

The Good Earth

    

                                         A  day set apart in the world calendar,
                                          In honour  of the great good Earth,
                                       Is aptly in keeping with the need of time,
                                          And a wisely thought of gesture.


               It's time for us to owe  allegiance,
               To this benign, silent benefactor,
               Express our gratitude and concern,
               Just we do to our own dear mother.

                                                A day not only to observe as a  ritual,
                                               But  pledge ourselves to safeguard her,
                                               From the threat of rampant  destruction,
                                                Caused by man's insatiable greed.

                 High time we  acted in earnest
                 As hers and our lots are but interlinked,
                 Let us stop plundering  her further,
                 Or we hasten our own sad end.

                                                      She is not merely soil and sand,
                                      .               But a spirit with  rare virtues,
                                                      Endless patience and  kindness,
                                                      Beauty, grace and elegance.

              No less adorable  than a mother,
              That gives us birth and brings up,
              Allows to grow and play in her lap,
           .  And offers firm ground to stand upon.

                                                     Now, shall we as ungrateful   children,
                                                     Neglect, ignore  and damage her  life,
                                                      Chasing madly our selfish  interests,
                                                      Putting in danger her very existence?

              For millions of years has she sustained,
              Sources for us to survive and flourish, 
              Shouldn't  we protect this  rich heritage,
              To be inherited by the children to come?

Mother India ....... forever adorable , forever loving !

    She is our  Mother!

    Yes, she is.
     By any definition.
    She is the one that gave us birth,
    Nourished, nurtured and enabled us,
    To live and enjoy this beautiful life.

            Though not visible  in flesh and blood,
             She is a unique,  immortal spirit,
             Conceived in our minds and hearts,  
             A sacred entity in herself.

            To be felt,  adored and glorified,

             With epithets most brilliant, 
            She is known as the land of birth,
            The Motherland..

           The proud mother to millions of children,
           Of varied merits and  ambitions,
           Hailing  from diverse  backgrounds,
           With different mindsets and emotions.

 

            There're people with seasoned thinking,
             And also immature and devoid of reason;
             Adamant at raising voices of dissent;
               Only to feed their selfish intents.

             But this magnanimous matriarch;
            Treats everyone with equal fondness;
             Doles out her gifts  to all fairly
             Without the least discrimination.

             Whether they be sensible and grateful,
              Or most  arrogant and thankless,
              She treats  them with benevolence, 
             That's the mark of an ideal mother. 


               For, firmly she follows the  law of nature, 
               To love and guide  her children  always,
               And let them decide for themselves,
             Whether to be grateful or do otherwise.

               So what if you sing not her praise aloud,
               Or even refuse to pronounce her name?
               Over and above these rituals she stands,
               Intact is her glory, you uphold it or not!

वसन्तोत्सव ......

पहनकर बहुरंगी  परिधान
 धरा करती  किसका आह्वान ?


भ्रमर लाये किसका संदेश
तितलियां  देतीं  क्या निर्देश ?

सुरभि आप्लावित  वातावरण
दे  रहा  किसको आमंत्रण ?

पवन की गति होती क्यो मंद
कर  रहा       बोझिल  क्या मकरंद ?
  पत्र पुष्पों   की बंदन वार
 लगी क्यो वन उपवन के द्वार ?

कोकिला ले कर पंचम तान
कर  रही किसका गौरव गान ?

पाँवों    से सिर तक खिला पलाश
छलकता किसके प्रति उल्लास ?

किसलिए बौराया  है आम
कर रहा झुक-झुक  किसे  प्रणाम ?


छा रहा चहु दिशि  नव जीवन
भला किसका यह अभिनंदन ?

अतिथि वह कौन अनूप विशिष्ट
स्वयम वसुधा सुंदरि  का इष्ट  ,

 व्यक्त करने आदर  , अनुराग
 बिछाया पथ  पर  राग पराग

   हुआ  मन  भी   वासंती  आज
   आ गये   सचमुच  क्या ऋतुराज ?


    ,

The Road Through The Woods

                                           
                                        The Feathered Wonders


               These  wondrous creatures,
                With beautiful  plumes,
               Painted   meticulously,
               On the boundless canvas,
                 From the earth to sky.

               Models of Nature's perfect art,
                Source of joy and wonderment,
               Emanating pleasure with beauty,                                                               All around, perpetually.

                  As if  immersed in the paint,
                 Made in Nature's secret vault,
              Vibrant, glowing and richly coloured, 
                  Each one, a rainbow in itself.
        
                Equally blessed do they sound,
                With voices varied and sweet,
               As  they Chitter, chatter and peep,
              Warble and coo in melodious tweets.
             
         
                Who but Nature is the super artist,
                That  created this  living blend,
                Of colours, sounds, and patterns,
                And put it in these tiny frames?
         
                Oh! How I wish to borrow and feel,
                A  little of this enviable grace,
                Even for a short and transient phase,
              It would indeed be an immense bliss!

.
         
        
            
               

Patriotism --- Is it an out dated word ?

Breathes  there the man with soul so dead
Who never to himself hath said
This is my own my native land!
                                                    Sir  Walter Scott ---- 1771-1872

Wonder why I begin with these queer and curt lines written by a poet from the 18th century in a far-off foreign land ? The poem learnt long back in the school days, has suddenly surfaced itself from the pages of memory onto the present scenario, and is compelling me to pen down my own adherence to it.
    In the first place, I wish to reaffirm the well-established truth that the love and concern of people for their homeland is an almost universal phenomenon.  It is undoubtedly, an inborn, natural feeling of belonging, leading to the unquestionable love for the land of one's birth, that further culminates in a sense of pride in it. The curious blending of these fine feelings can be summed up in a peculiar word called Patriotism.
         The word has such a magic about it that poets all over the world have found it the most favourite subject for their writings. Some of these creations have become immortal in their universal appeal and relevance, like the one quoted here.
                    In  view of the situation prevailing in the country, the   musing of  an immortal bard from a foreign land in the distant past, seems absolutely relevant even today, that one who does not love his native land and indulges himself in activities against its interest  , - by word or deed , -directly or indirectly  ,must be one with 'a soul so dead ' that this soulless person will forfeit all his honor despite owning high  titles ,power  and riches He will spend a worthless life and   at the end of it----

                              doubly dying shall go down
                               to the vile dust  from whence, he sprung
                                   unwept, unhonored, and unsung.

                                   

A SOLDIER LAMENTS

I saw him fight  that night

Not against an enemy at the front 

But a few unreasonable minds

Bent upon degrading

Things and values

He held uppermost

As the love of nation was being termed 

'Forced nationalism '

And shouting abusive slogans

Against one's own  motherland

Was being justified

In the name of freedom

Of expression.

Even the emblem of national honour

The Tricolor 

Was made a topic of heated debate.

And  the veteran soldier's heart 

Could no longer contain 

His sorely injured feelings

 At the most unsavoury  reasoning

Offered by the so-called liberals

And we saw him react  and burst,

Pour out his anguished  heart

Like a thunderbolt at first,

Then  shouting with a lump in the throat

And  helpless tears  at last

His voice silenced all 

And made everyone  realize 

That he was in earnest to react

And  express his strong feelings

With that unusual retort.

That the nation and its honour

Are over and above all else

Are the succour we all live by 

For who lives if the country is dead 

And who dies so long as it is alive  .!

SIACHEN SORROWS

                                            
   O you killer peaks of Siachen!                                Cruel has been your whim,

  Ignoble and insane,  

 To unleash your deadly assault,

 On duty-bound   sentinels,
 Without giving them a chance,
 To fight and prove their mettle.

  Look, every sensitive  heart,,
  Is  struck with a rude shock,
  Wondering what prompted you,
  To play a game so unfair.

  Wasn't it an act of deceit,
  Vicious and  cruel,
  To trap them so unawares,
  In that most unjust warfare?

   Had  some evil impulse,
   Overcome you all of a sudden?
   Mischief so mean  otherwise,
   Couldn't be your normal action.

    Or did you feel challenged,
    Insecure or belittled,
    By the superhuman fortitude,
    Of the heroes posted there .?
                                      
    No, they  hadn't been there,
    To dare your sky-high stature,
    Nor disrupt your pristine solitude,
    Or blemish your snowy splendour.
                                            
     They had come there trudging, 
     The tough mountain terrains,
     To guard the precious lone posts,
      Bordering their own motherland.
                                 
      Just to keep a silent vigil,
      On and around the fields,                                                                                                                                Lest some evil eye should dare,
      Desecrate the sacred portals.

      Yes, they were there braving,
      The most inimical  climes,,,
      Performing their duties in earnest,
       As sacred, religious rituals.
                                 
      Then why did  your cruel avalanche
        Hit  as if they were your foes,
          Buried  them alive in ice,
         Hiding their very existence?

      But be not proud you agent of Death!
      Of cutting short their  physical beings,
      For stories of their matchless courage, 
    Will   keep echoing in the air  around you
     And in the mind and heart of the nation !!
                                        

                                       
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