Dr R. Madhavi is a Reader in English, StTheresa's College, Eluru, A.P. She is a Live-Lesson Presenter on MANA TV, Govt of A.P. She guides students for their M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees. She published articles and authored a Language Lab Manual.
75. The Two Facets of Nature
When the shimmering rays of the moon
Dance lightly on vast stretches of emerald meadows,
Kissing the crowns of regal palms that swish and sway
A silent prayer renders the heart to the maker above.
When the brilliance of the sun lights up fields
Of corn tossing their heads in a sprightly dance,
The twittering of birds , the buffaloes wallowing in mud baths
Peace reigns supreme , filling the heart, filling the senses.
When the wafting breezes caress the frolicking waves
Beckoning them to dance to the cadence of mother earth,
Or lift their hands to hold cavorting fish or break into frothy bubbles
On pristine shores, the soul rests gladdened and content.
But when the ominous moon casts a witching spell
On tumbling homes and broken spirits, shadowing
The world turned upside down by gigantic rumbles,
The mind is filled with fear and untold misery.
When the pitiless glare dries up the earth
With man and beast crying out with parched throats,
Dust filled tears caked on skeletal frames bent in hunger,
The heart is pierced with sorrow and aches in pain
When the lashing waves flatten hearth and home,
Howling winds lift their heads to thunder stricken skies,
Swirling waters swallow the last vestige of life and hope,
Terror reigns supreme in life's living hell.
As Nature , so does man have two facets to his being,
The one that is soothing, joyous and giving.
But the other unleashed, strikes out in vengeance
Destroying all in his path with fury uncontrolled.
76. The New Generation
Here they come , the new generation,
At their beck and call is the nation.
Opportunities galore, wondrous worlds open
Their doors--pampering, coaxing, inviting
To partake of the latest treats, gizmos and all-
Blackberry,Versace, Nike, Skoda --- sure they have a ball!
Lost without cellphones, confused without the net,
They're connected to every nook of the world you bet.
In swanky cars they move, life made swankier still
With Spencer's goodies and Central's outfits vying to fit the bill.
Ne'er a care, not a worry , the latest tunes on their sleeves and lips,
Oh! They do appear the darlings of the world on a joyous trip.
Confident gaits, swaggering styles, a devil-may-care attitude,
'Got to make good bucks' is the mantra of these cool dudes
Beer guzzlers, party animals, disco throngers,
The new generation has the world in their pockets -so it seems.
Here they come the lost generation ,
Worried looks, puzzled visages, frowning at life's vexations
Out of touch with life, out of reach with its nuances and depths,
Their life's journey caught in the rut of routines.
Bent backs , creaky limbs, gnarled fingers-et al.,
Countless hours glued to the shining screen has taken its toll.
The doc has a thing to say of the heart that misses
A beat, as of the mind that in muddy thoughts capsizes.
Who are these bleary eyed owls, who watch the nights
Earnest in conversing in a tongue that're not their own,
To phantoms with voices, they try to please, people sans faces
Lost to them the sun filled days, lost to them the world's graces.
Wither goest thou,O! brave new generation!
Out of touch with kith and kin- for family you have lost veneration.
Out of touch with your true selves, staggering with eroded visions,
Caught in the swirling eddies of life ,caught in the snare of materialism.
Wake up before it's too late! Answer this clarion call, you denizens,
A soul searching quest to seek newer meanings, newer horizons.
A new philosophy of harmony ,simplicity, and nobility,
Should be the panacea that would rid the world of further futility.
