Open up!

As we look at the world, with all its walls and lines,
May we also look at it from a really far, far place.
Where are those walls and lines?

As we see another being's differences,
May we also look at what is common.
Where from our breath comes from?

He is this, she is that,
The world is all mayhem - we say.
Let's calm down and work it out.

To view each event by its own light,
To see each zebra by its own stripe.
Ah, the glory of universal vision!

Baby Firewall

Baby Fireball

I found a baby fireball!

Placed it gently in a pit in the woods.

Oh it burned down the place!

When was age a factor for valor?

Thattharigita thatharigita thitthom!

~ Translation of part of the poem "Aggini kunjonRu kanden" by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharati

http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~vasur/akkini.html

~ An uplifting and exciting song that talks about what happens when one taps into their potential… and that age or size or any so called limit is no bar! The metaphor of the "baby fireball" is very famous due to BharatiAr! I have kept the ending line to show the excitement that the poet had in the song!

Musings on a Spider!

Spider caught in bag wondered;

"Why are they looking at me?
My compound eyes see their eyes well -
I see fear and a tinge of misunderstanding!
I see anger and know not why.

They are saying things I do not get,

I wonder if they are going to eat me.
If not, why would they hold me in this pen at all?
I do not understand this animal a bit!

I hear some screaming,

And thoughts of squishing me,
Why oh why I say…
Do they need to do that?

I bite but only when they come close,

I catch my prey only to eat,
Not to play with or make fun of,
I do not understand this animal a bit!"

Nature has a place for all,

Not just humans you see,
Not saying you should not eat your food,
Nor protect yourself from harm.

May be we should all think,

On how to minimize harm,
If a "critter" is not causing trouble,
Please let it outside your home!

Narayan Srinivasan

~ Feb 21, 2015

Bharathi's wake-up call

I beckon you dear!
To come here...

With eyes lit so bright,

a strong heart and gleeful words,

with strong shoulders,
and a clear mind.

Rise against smallness of thought,

But feel for those who are humble!
Walk like a might Ox my dear,
I beckon you here!

I beseech you young India,

to show your unmatched skill.
Rise and shine like the morning sun,
on a land that lost it's luster!

I beckon you to esteem,

the culture that seems lost.
With just a gaze of your eyes,
go beyond both fame and infamy!

~ Narayan Srinivasan, 12/12/2014

Note:

As a tribute to the great Tamil poet, Subramanya Bharati: Made an attempt to base this work on one of his motivational classics.

It is not easy to match the original poem, for it's simple but very uplifting rhtym and in the way he called the people of India to come forward with a combination of strength and humility, heart and mind, intellect and emotion!

The original repeats the words "vaa vaa vaa" - an emphatic way of calling someone. The word "vaa" in tamil means "come". Calling thrice shows emphasis to listen to the message. Bharati uses optimistic words to encourage people to awaken to their potential and bring back the forgotten luster - these were times India was under British rule!

The last verse I believe is a reference to Arjuna (the word pArthan is used in the original poem); and connected to the message to go beyond the duality of fame and infamy; as in acting without attachment to fame or fear of infamy.

While those words decades ago had their reason: the voice of reason and tact in his poem are universally appealing and uplifting! 

The original can be found in this link (copied the content in Tamil as well).

http://www.scribd.com/doc/142949820/Bharathiyar-Songs-LYRICS

OLi padaitha kaNNinai vaa vaa vaa

uRudhi konda nenjinaai vaa vaa vaa
kaLi padaiththa mozhiyinaai vaa vaa vaa
kadumai konda thoLinaai vaa vaa vaa

theLivu petra madhiyinaai vaa vaa vaa
siRumai kaNdu ponguvaai vaa vaa vaa
eLimai kaNdiranguvaai vaa vaa vaay
eRu pol nadaiyinaai vaa vaa vaa

iLaya bharadhathinaai vaa vaa vaa

edirila Valathinaai vaa vaa vaa
oLi izhandha naatile nindReRum
udhaya gyayiRoppave vaa vaa vaa

kaLai izhandha naatile mun pole

kaLai siRakka vandhanai vaa vaa vaa
viLayum maNmbu yavaiyum paarththan pol
vizhiyinal viLakkuvai vaa vaa vaa