Friday 28 October 2016

Acts of Kindness

                                                  
In a world that seems otherwise 
Things happen that make the spirit rise 
Random acts of kindness 
Bringing unexpected happiness. 

On the last late night bus 
Short of change conductor makes a fuss 
A fellow passenger pays my fare 
Kindness this way we share. 

A young boy rescuing a kitten 
By its pleading eyes smitten 
Looking for a home for its care 
Love and consideration we all share.  

A courier pigeon with a message  
Not just a bird of passage 
To a police station taken 
Officer thanks for the thought given. 

Loaded with things from the supermarket 
A stranger offers a helping hand 
With a gesture so grand 
From an old person who hardly can stand. 

Walking up a flight of stairs 
Someone from up turns around 
With a helping hand to find my ground 
A stranger holding the door open 
A kind gesture well taken. 

From a house burning 
With a trapped person screaming 
A pet getting out trying 
Someone rushes in without caring 
Her own safety not to her thinking 
Saved person, pet gratitude sharing. 

A child into the river fallen 
At great risk from river by someone taken 
Firemen, rescuers well trained 
From floods rescuing people stranded 
Ordinary people unasked help with needs 
You and I in the past with forgotten deeds. 

Not just with people  
Kindness to animals as well 
The woman up north caring for stray dogs 
A millionaire with a sanctuary for cats and dogs 
With spreading urbanization 
Wild animals no choice but migration. 
                                                                             
Man and animal now compete 
An unequal competition 
Some have become uncaring 
Awareness, Honesty, Responsibility lacking. 

But not all is lost, there is hope 
A counterbalance to help cope 
Human values beginning to shine 
With acts of kindness a very good sign. 

Kindness does not stand alone 
Only out of love grown 
Our basic instincts must heed  
To love and be loved a basic need. 

Love and kindness the counter balance 
To meet all imbalances 
Of anger, rage and destruction 
Let the world take positive action. 

In every people and country 
Love and kindness to give ready 
An overwhelming force of energy 
Nothing can stop this synergy. 

MPP 
23.10.2016 

Wednesday 19 October 2016

Nemmara Festivals

                     
With summer's arrival 
A time for festivals 
Two adjacent counties in rivalry 
Competing in spirit friendly 
The festival honouring the Diety 
Nellikulamkara`s Goddes Bhagavathy. 

Two processions proceeding 
At the Bhagavathy temple meeting 
On the festival`s twentieth day 
Caparisoned elephants make their way 
On either sides of the lead elephant 
In formation each side five elephants. 

With each other the two counties compete 
Four percussion, one wind instrument replete 
The Panchavadhyam tempo rising 
Musicians, improvisations making.   

Fireworks brightening the night sky 
Multi-tiered explosions way up high 
Cascading coloured lights 
Cheered by all in great delight. 
In the Brahmin Village  
Temple diety given homage 
An annual Cart Ceremony 
Two cart ropes pulled by many 
Men women and children take part 
With great effort move the cart. 

Two elephants at the rear 
Pushing wheels obstacles to clear 
Padded trunks making easy work 
This way the cart gently rocks 
When cart has to turn sharper 
One wheel pushed harder 
Under the wheel a wedge placed 
Skilled action getting much praise. 

A tall pyramid six or more tiered 
With lights and flowers decorated 
The deity on a central platform installed 
Flowers, fruits by devotees offered 
To many the deity comes alive 
Faith and blessings many derive. 
 
A long stout bamboo Kummatti pole 
Sixty or more frames it holds 
Flower wreaths tapering 
Bigger wreaths below  
Smaller ones above. 

Ropes now in position 
Pulled in unison 
This way the pole lifted  
Borne along well balanced. 

The village centre with a deity 
A shrine for Mannatha Muthi 
The village Grandmother 
With great protecting powers 
Homage to her proffered 
Sketches and dances offered 
Many nights’ people gather 
Enjoying what they have to offer. 

Sketches and dances to show 
Past life styles as they flow 
In the days of prohibition 
A British Excise Officer`s exhibition 
An Illegal toddy tapper sentencing 
With a heavy fine imposing 
All roles by males played 
Female roles true to life made 

Onam a National Kerala Festival 
A Harvest Festival 
Feasts, folk songs sances 
Games, elephants, boat races 
Ladies Onakali perform 
Intricate flower mats as Pookalam. 

During August – Sptember 
King Mahabali to remember 
A change of mood to all  
A season with a welcome call. 

M P P 
14.10.16