IF EVER, OVER MY GRAVE, YOU GRIEVE - Poem by Deepak Menon

A moment ago your eyes personified life's joys,
...............great and small
Your face smiled at the world.
Your face still smiles, but like the smile painted on a doll
As absently, you brush aside a curl,
.
Of your carelessly ribboned locks of wavy lustrous hair
Falling in a cascade around your face.
And I see that the fire of love in your eyes, is no longer there
Vanished without a trace.
.
I know that, for some time you will continue to profess love
While you gently retreat,
From my life, knowing that, I have already suffered enough
While worshipping your feet.
.
I wonder if you will ever think about me in later years,
When another, you gently leave;
I wonder if your lovely eyes will well with reluctant tears,
If ever, over my grave, you grieve.
. . . . ........................ Deepak Menon

STOP - RED LIGHT - FOLLOW THE RULES OF THE ROAD

TRAFFIC SIGNALS IN THE DISCIPLINED
INDIA OF TODAY ARE FOLLOWED BY
EVERY INDIAN REGARDLESS OF CASTE,
CREED,RELIGION,RACE,NATIONALITY
OR SPECIES !!!!!!

I got this from someone on the net and
wanted to share it immediately ....

 

THE SMILE THAT YOU KEPT FOR ME

. . .By Deepak Menon
There was once a smile as sweet as honey
Yet it was wild as the sea
A smile that could set bells a ringing
The smile that you kept for me
.
An enigmatic smile it was at times
A smile at times lonely
A smile that brought cheer to my life
The smile that you kept for me
.
It was a smile that caused hearts to flutter
With envy and jealousy
When people saw it was not for them
The smile that you kept for me
.
A smile that brought out the best in me
Like courage and bravery
A smile that spurred me to greater heights
The smile that you kept for me
.
But time took its toll and it faded at last
As was never meant to be
And strained is that once beautiful smile
The smile that you keep for me

Great people say and write great things ... So learn them if you can ..

SOME GREAT QUOTES BY GREAT MEN

.

1. Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs.

Henry Ford
.
2.I haven't failed, I've found 10,000 ways that don't work.
Thomas Edison
.
3. Always continue to climb. It is possible for you to do whatever you choose, if you first get to know who you are and are willing to work with a power that is greater than ourselves to do it.
Oprah Winfrey
.
4. Ideas must work through the brains and arms of good and brave men, or they are no better than dreams.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
.
5. If I were a medical man, I should prescribe a holiday to any patient who considered his work important.
Bertrand Russell
.
6. No rules for success will work if you don't.
Unknown
.
7. Problems are only opportunities in work clothes.
Henry Kaiser
.
8. The best kind of pride is that which compels a person to do his or her best even when no one is looking.
Unknown
.
9. The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.
Vidal Sassoon
.
10. Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
.
11. When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.
John Ruskin
.
12. Warning to all Personnel: Firings will continue until morale improves.
Anonymous
.
13. Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
Thomas Edison
.
14. Every man's work, whether it be literature, or music or pictures or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself.
Samuel Butler
.
15. One plays for the sake of work and works for the sake of leisure.
Aristotle
.
16. The work praises the man.
Irish proverb
.
17. Work your way up or rust your way out.
H Holton
.
I hope you liked this selection but always remember that though a lot of the quotes are about WORK - I never liked that silly thing Work because it is without a doubt the most boring task to do ...
.
Here is one I have just thought up :-
18. "Give 'em a smile and they'll take a mile"
Deepak Menon
29 Aug 2006 on my daughters birthday!

A TIME TO CLING TO ...A Poem by me

A TIME TO CLING TO ...
And a time to cling to and never let go
A time of which we have nothing to show
A time when in profound joy we lie low
A time of love, which we never out grow
.
A time of love welling up in joyous souls
A time to grapple inspiration to our souls
A time when love light over our world rolls
Our object of love becomes our single goal
.
Remember my friends very many perspectives
Colour this Earth where puny mankind lives
And here is where the glory of love lives
Ruling our destinies and Golden dreams gives
.
So be not ruled by the mind's sense and reason
Do not change your colors with every season
Never against your love commit any treason
Golden is the color of Eternal Love’s Season
Deepak Menon
25 Aug 2006

It took a long time coming .. Appreciation from my precious son

And today my son Sam brought a glow of love all over me with this letter he sent :-
.
Dearest Pop,
I was reading Tamam Shudh again. And it is indeed the best poetry I've ever read. You ROCK!!! :-D...Lots of love and kisses,
Sam
.
So what more can one want in this world?
.
And the cover of the book I am placing below

A quatrain by someone and another by me

The quatrain by someone I read in an old old book was :-
.
You to the Mosque with howling Hymn and Prayer
And I to the Tavern do repair
Each to find Allah in his diverse ways
I find him here - do you find him there?
.
And here is a quatrain I wrote :-
.
58.A traveler approaching the Tavern cried
" Open the doors and let me come inside,
to restore my faith for a little while
Before back into the heartless world -I ride".
.
Deepak Menon - From My book of Quatrains - Tamamshudh

Literature is the Mirror of our Times - A poem by Deepak Menon

Literature is the mirror of the times they say
Reflecting the colours of the present day
The joys and the sorrows of the world they say
Sentiments which rise when the people pray.
.
So the world today when today described
In words that its true sentiments cried
Must be the flavour of the times imbibed
In the general psyche of men world wide
.
The flavour of sweeping pride and hate
Attacking in strength providence's gate
With rabble rousers taunting to inflate
Fear in people against their earlier mate
.
The flavour of the sentiments of the vulture
Listening with each breath for the overture
Of discontent with visions of the dark future
In religion or wealth which is losing lusture
.
And the flavour of the lurking jackal
Who lurks in the shadows watching all
Who stray even a little from justices hall
To give his pack destructions clarion call
.
And descend on the peaceful remains of earth
Hoardes who were born to a gentle hearth
Misled by scavenging beings soon after birth
To evolve into destroyers of laughter and mirth
.
And rob this gentle earth of its gown of love
Causing to fly away with peace the gentle dove
Closing the escape window to the One above
Hate, Jealousy, Anger, Deceit replacing LOVE
.
So what shall this Literateur write about?
Shall he ramble and incoherently shout?
Like a senseless bully become an enraged lout?
Or shall he live and silently against injustice shout ?
.
God made us to live within the borders of our lord
Love and Kindness to spread across the board
To protect and save without expectaion of reward
To sing messages of love like an an immortal bard
.
But somewhere along the way humanity has strayed
And by some malignant dark force been waylaid
And the visits to old friends are now akin to a raid
With loot lining the thorn bed for friends now made
.
Perhaps love shall still rise from the earth like a sphinx
Perhaps it shall still enter the minds of one who thinks
And repair the chain of brotherhood’s broken links
And smoothen out the creases and break the jinx
.
So that the people of the world can once again smile
And love and hope and laughing the entire while
Embrace their brothers and sisters across every mile
With open love rise from darkness without guile......
.
. Deepak Menon - 12 Aug 06

'Tis an idle fancy! - A poem by Deepak Menon

I love HER? How can you say that?
I tell you it is not true!
You insist! Even when it isn't a fact?
Oh! How can I convince you?
.
I do not believe a word you say!
And even if I did, so what?
So what if throughout the day
My brow is feverish and hot?
.
So what if from my deepest slumber
I start and then to her call out?
So what if efforts to erase her memory
Have by time - been put to rout?
.
So what if I only think of her
And talk and dream and live her name?
So what if my eyes are often filmed
With tears of sorrow, lingering shame
.
That I could not my conscience still
And keep my tryst with destiny's call?
So what if her image my heart does fill
So what if she holds my heart in thrall?
.
'Tis nonsense, once more I tell you
You are mistaken though you know me well
Even though away with my soul she flew
'Tis an idle fancy, - can't you tell?

Lyrics of the Red River Valley - Singer and writer unknown

For long I thought about the lyrics of the song
The days spent in looking for it became long
Then out of the blue came the beautiful three
Who knew the words and sent them to me!
AND THOUGH THE WRITER OF THE SONG
IS LOST IN THE MIST OF TIME ...
THE SONG REMAINS IMMORTAL FOR ALL TIME
.
Here are the words :-
.
Red River Valley
CHORUS
From this valley they say you are going
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
For they say you are taking the sunshine
That has brightened our pathways awhile
.
Come and sit by my side, if you love me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
Just remember the Red River Valley
And the cowboy who loved you so true
.
I've been thinking a long time, my darling
Of the sweet words you never would say
Now, alas, must my fond hopes all vanish
For they say you are gong away
.
Do you think of the valley you're leaving
Or how lonely and how dreary it will be
D'you think of the hearts you are breaking
And the pain you are causing to me
.
They will bury me where you have wandered
Near the hills where the daffodils grow
When you're gone from the Red River Valley
For I can't live without you I know
.
CHORUS
From this valley they say you are going
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
For they say you are taking the sunshine
That has brightened our pathways awhile

SONNET NO 3 by Deepak Menon

A dryad of the Forest on a wooded mountain's crest
Flicking in and out of the shadows of autumn leaves
A magic fleeting glimpse of dappled dreams blest
By the hand of the Creator for whom eternity grieves
. Was the love I yearned through troubled times and good
. Was the sound of a voice long gone into yesterday's bed
. Was the being of a golden smile carved in hardened wood
. For which again and anon my dispirited heart bled
Till ensanguined it became as the pale horse of death
And the wine turned vintage and dried into grey ash
While the vessel crumbling did scream out the threat
To eject the dying spirit in one great blinding flash
. 'Twas then that like rain from the sky - thy falling tears
. On my upturned face - gave life for the coming years.

Reflections on Jealousy by Deepak Menon

11. JEALOUSY.

11.1 Beware of jealousy. It will reduce the strongest mind to
imbecelity. It will reduce the strongest body to a bag of bones.
And it will burn out all emotions forever.

.
11.2 The jealous are like the clouds passing on overhead. One
is never sure when one or the other will pour.
.
11.3 Behold the great Oracle. He can tell you every thing that
will happen in the future - except the actions of one afflicted
with jealousy.
.

Entry for June 22, 2006 - A verse from my book "Tamamshudh"

'Tis a strange desire that will not go away

Even when the Vine's daughter holds me in sway.

.      To try to forget the moment spent with thee

Is the reason I go to the tavern - day after day.

                                  Quatrain No 76 from Tamamshudh by deepak menon

The Glorious Love Flag - A poem by Deepak Menon

Treasures of life lie scattered along the way

Ahead is the fiery dragon we must slay
To cross the bridge across the abyss so deep
To reach the paradise where we are to sleep

No sword do we have in our hands to weild
The dragon is strong and will never yeild
And if we stop and pause a while to think
Time will see that our armour has a chink

And the insidious mist of foraging time
Will enter with its sweet enticing wine
And lost in reviewing our life page by page
We shall fall victim to ravaging age

What shall we do? The cry erupts in pain
From our parched lips turned upwards for rain
Then falls on them a tiny little drop
Of sweet nectar of love from Gods own crop

And the sword is sheathed with a bright smile
Lightened strides swiftly cover the last mile
The beacon of love lights up the dark world
The glorious love flag above is unfurled

And the dragons fire of hate dies out
And he stands aside – we joyously shout
Hurray! As we enter the promised land
To embrace for ever our long lost band

The people who had left our little world
Or into the raging storms of life hurled
By time, which then only stops at the gate
Of Eternity where we meet our mate

Then there is no other journey to start
There we shall again never have to part
From the ones who were the songs of our life
To oblivion shall be banished all strife

By Deepak Menon - 14th June 2006 on this blog

An utterly butterly divine creation of nature - photographed by me!!

Wonder of wonders - the very first butterfly

I saw in my garden this year and the lazy and

noisy me managed not only to get the camera

before it flew away - but also managed to reach

it noiselessly and photograph. I wonder if some

one will give me the pat on the back I richly

deserve for this stupendous acheivement!!

A Distant Shore - A poem by Deepak Menon

A Distant Shore
.
Strange, through this crowd of anguished souls
My chariot with some hidden purpose rolls
Carrying me helplessly to some distant shore
But will I reach it before my bell tolls?
.
And having reached that dim distant shore
Will I find that I have been there before?
And will I hear that same song in the breeze
That was sung by thee in the days of yore?
.
And will that great love folklore of the past
Awaken to its destiny at long long last?
And will thy spirit assume the form I knew
Before it too was into the cauldron cast?
.
And shall then the cauldron spill out its content?
And shall then serenades, the still air rent?
Summoning the lost loves, of yester-years
And shall then return those, who yesterday went?
.
And will they have the meaning of life learned?
And will they cherish what once they spurned?
And will there be songs singing in their hearts?
Or will their souls too, into stone have turned?
.
Deepak Menon
Copyright ©2004 Deepak Menon

'Daffodils' by William Wordsworth

'Daffodils'
William Wordsworth

.
I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host of golden daffodils,

Beside the lake, beneath the trees

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze

.
Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way

They stretched in never-ending line

along the margin of the bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance

.
The waves beside them danced;but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be so gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed - and gazed - but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

.
For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon the inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

.

The simplicity and beauty of great poetry ...

All Through The Night
Alfred Lord Tennyson

.
Sleep my love and peace attend thee,

All through the night;

Guardian angels, God will send thee,

All through the night

Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,

Hill and vale in slumber sleeping,

Love alone His watch is keeping,

All through the night.

.
While the moon her watch is keeping,

All through the night;

While the weary world is sleeping,

All through the night

.

O'er the spirit gently stealing,

Visions of delight revealing,

Breathes a pure and holy feeling,

All through the night

.

A quatrain from Khayyam and one written by me..

LXXIII. A quartrain by Omar Khayyam from

his immortal Rubiyyat of Omar Khayyam

translated by Edward Fitzgerald
.

Ah, Love! could thou and I with Fate conspire
.
To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire,
.
Would not we shatter it to bits--and then
.
Re-mould it nearer to the Heart's Desire!

.

*******

No 132. A quartrain by Deepak Menon from his book of

Poetry - Tamam Shudh - Poems of Passion

.

Many a time have I made strong my resolve

.

To seek an answer - the great mystery to solve

.

As to why HE who gives and takes all

.

Decreed that the puzzle of life - remain unsolv'd?

A CHILD OF THE EARTH - A poem by Deepak Menon

I am a child of the Earth
Priceless and Rare
A child so fair
Drinking its love since birth

At first I understood not why
Hunger made me weak
No one to me would speak
And I would cling to the Earth and cry

And many questions rose in my brain
Why were my clothes torn?
Why was I weary and worn?
Why did I have to sleep out in the rain?

And as I grew the answers came to me
I was a child of the Earth
Which was my house and my hearth
To share it's joy and pain was my destiny

And now as on it's cold bosom I lie
Its anguished love to share
I see before me laid bare
The souls of the Averted Eyes scurrying by.

Copyright - Deepak Menon