Poetry

John Mill, The emphatic philosopher of strange confusion

February 27, 2024October 6, 2020 by Lukesh Umak

John Stuart Mill (1806 – 1873) was the most influential personality of the nineteenth century. He was a liberal, naturalist, and utilitarian. John combined enlightenment thinking of eighteenth century with the emerging fashion of romantic and historical philosophy of nineteenth century.

Ask yourself whether you are happy or you cease to be so
John Mill

The Theory of Poetry Philosophy Changed John Mill

John was the one who was got his early isolation from his friends of his age except his siblings due to continuous pushing of Mill's father (the Scottish philosopher, historian, and economist James Mill) forming him a genius intellect. John was considered in his family a precious gem. His uninterrupted journey of education had started at the age of three, when Greek became his first foreign language. At eight, he turned the pages of Aesop's fables, Xenophon's Anabasis, the whole of Herodotus and many others.

^{Replica of a portrait commissioned to G.F. Watts by Sir Charles Dikes}

As well as, his brain also scanned thousands of pages of history in English along the way studied astronomical physics. In his reading list he had many historical authors and writers. Moreover, at the age 20 he went under dejection of suicidal depression. According to his biography, he was losing his happiness striving for his goal. It was due to dearth of fearful interest in his objective (creation of just a society).

Poetry of William Wordsworth changed Mill

Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings; It takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillity.
William Wordsworth

However, It was the poetry of Wordsworth who helped him find joy, and he continued achieving his goal. The theory of William Mill arises from the mental crises of 1826. Mill onwards in his life complete changed man of confused and muddled of two different things, Poetry and Philosophy.

— Miss Caroline Fox (Cornish Diarist) on John Mill,

Not a little; he was most emphatically a philosopher, but then he read Wordsworth and that muddled him, and he has been in a strange confusion ever since endeavouring to unite poetry and philosophy.

In his biography, it revealed that the book was unable to relate his personal experiences to his thoughts. Most of his impotent work seemed to be to hide rather than revealed the man. Some evidence had seen ignored.

“Mill's early letter to Carlyle and Sterling, his criticism of Benthamism in the 1830s and his autobiography have been seen as indicating emotional tensions, and his praise of WORDSWORTH and COLERIDGE has often been recognized as awareness of these tensions.”

Also, read: Mencius: “Friendship is one mind in two bodies.” and Phule: “Lack of education leads to lag in everything”

See How Love Poems By Rumi Change Your view

February 27, 2024October 3, 2020 by Lukesh Umak

Learning seems effortlessly from the gunny of love poems by Rumi. He showed us how to love this universe and its forms through his poetic mind.

You can call Rumi a preacher, a saint, or promoter of the creator of this universe. He was born to a clergyman of a Persian family (30 Sep 1207 – 17 Dec 1273) in Afghanistan. His real name was Jalal ad-din Muhammad Balkhi. There was no doubt that he was not a Muslim, but he never confined himself to a particular religion. He means there is a single light that every human and their religion belongs to and has the same origin. And the meaning of his name is “Glory of The Faith”. He was a well-known Sufi master and famous for his ecstatic poetry.

Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes around in another form.
Rumi

The poems of Rumi bring Spirituality and Love | Depiction of Rumi and Shams-e Tabrizi — Depiction of Rumi
and Shams-e Tabrizi

His poetry talks all about Love and according to Rumi, the definition of love he incorporated into his verses. Those books are still anyone would love to read which are timeless poetry.

“That flame which when it blazes up, burns away everything except the everlasting beloved.”

Reading it quickly reminds us a famous saying, “everything is fair in love and war” it is likely more similar in terms but Rumi put it in very precise way.

The below poetry of Rumi explains extremely well. He put himself into different states of life and educate readers. This verse is from his one of the well-known works “The Masnavi”.

I died to the mineral state and became a plant,
I died to the vegetal state and reached animality,
I died to the animal state and became a man,
Then what should I fear? I have never become less from dying.
At the next charge (forward) I will die to human nature,
So, that I may lift (my) head and wings (and soar) among the angels,
And I must (also) jump from the river of (the state of) the angel,
Everything perishes except His Face,
Once again I will become sacrificed from (the state of) the angel,
I will become that which cannot come into the imagination,
Then I will become non-existent; non-existence says to me (in tones) like an organ,
Truly, to Him, is our return.

His micro thinking in this poetry earned high value by placing his powerful imagination to overcome the fear of human. The poem states simply flow of energy from one object to another. It is a process of nature. He and his verses well explained the way to reach god and it is possible through poetry, songs, dance which awakes our consciousness and lead us through a bright light to the Devine power.
His other great work “Diwan-e Shams-e Tabriz” after reading his love poems by Rumi, It appears that he wanted to dissolve all the lovers and awake human awareness.

The Poet, Nanao Sakaki, Well Said,

When you hear dirty story,
Wash your ear.
When you see ugly stuff,
Wash your eyes,
When you get bad thoughts,
Wash your mind.

See How Love Poems By Rumi Change Your view — It seems effortlessly from the gunny of verses of *Rumi*. He showed us how to love this universe and its forms through his poems. | 23 meters high statue of Mevlana in Buca, İzmir, Turkey

Readers would get a question on its last line that how to wash mind and the simple answer is read Rumi, his human cultivating thoughts and harmonious, intriguing mystical poetry which are valued for lifetime.

Rumi Poem: "In Your Light I Learn How To Love"

In your beauty, how to make poems.
You dance inside my chest
where no one sees you,
but sometimes I do,
and that sight becomes this art.

The above poem of Rumi says that what I create from my thoughts that is all about you. It is a love inside his chest that no one could see, but he could sometimes see and reveal the identity of the perception to the lovers through his writings and that is called Art by Rumi.

One of the love poems by Rumi: There is nothing ahead

Lovers think they’re looking for each other,
but there’s only one search: wandering
this world is wandering that,
both inside one
transparent sky.
In here there is
no dogma and no heresy.
The miracle of Jesus is himself, not what he said
or did about the future.

Forget the future.
I’d worship someone who could do that.
On the way you may want to look back, or not.
But if you can say, There’s nothing ahead,
there will be nothing there.
Stretch your arms
and take hold the cloth of your clothes
with both hands.
The cure for pain is in the pain.
Good and bad are mixed.
If you don’t have both,
you don’t belong with us.
When one of us gets lost,
is not here, he must be inside us.

There’s no place like that anywhere in the world.

The poet said that there is nothing apart from this holy earth where the pain, love, and cure are present. If there is pain, there is cure inside itself. Finding cure of pain is a job of Ambitious man.

Kabir Das: searching For Crook I Met Nobody And When I Search Myself, I Found The One.
Learn from Abay what is Desire of Soul from his finest collection of poetry.

Desire Of Soul By Abai Qunanbaiuly love everyone in learning

July 25, 2024September 26, 2020 by Lukesh Umak

Cultural reformer and poet Abay Kunanbayev (b.10 Aug 1845 – 6 July 1904) from Kazakhstan renowned for his notable work “The Book of Words” there were two inspirational people in his life since his childhood, Mikhail Lermontov (Russian writer) and Alexander Pushkin (Russian Poet). His second name is Abai Qunanbaiuly.

His poetry represents Kazakh culture and folklore for his people and the country. He developed as a fine writer from Russian culture and literature.

His pen brought about socio-political and economic changes that resulted in over the educational and philosophical changes to the existing philosophers, whether it is from Asia, Western or Russia. From his magical writings native continued to adapt the moral of the stories from his writings.

His reading experiences were mostly from Russian and European literature that transformed his life. Abay worked hard for the liberty of people and bringing the education as well as making them free from poverty was his prolong motive. And drive the awareness of corruption in the country.

From the book “The Book of Words” these thoughts and wisdom are famous, read below.

“Sorrow darkens the soul, chills the body, numbs the will, and then bursts forth in words or tears. I have seen people praying; “Oh, Allah, make me as carefree as a babe!” They imagine themselves to be sufferers, oppressed by cares and misfortunes, as though they had more sense than infants. As to their cares and concern, these can be judged from the proverbs: “If you will live no longer than noon, make provision for the whole day”,
“Even his father becomes a stranger to a beggar”
“Cattle for the Kazakh is flesh of his flesh”
“A rich man has a countenance full of light, a poor man — as hard as stone”
“The dzighit and the wolf will find their food along the way”
“The herds of exalted men are left to the care of others, except when such men have nothing better to do”
“The hand that takes also gives”
“He who has managed to get rich is always in the right”
“If you can't rely on the bey, don't count on God either”
“If you are famished, gallop to the place of a funeral feast”
“Beware of a lake with no shallows and of a people that knows no mercy”
Such proverbs are legion.”

“Life is the source of well-being...” What kind of life is meant here? Just existing to keep body and soul together? But even a dog is endowed with such an existence. He who treasures such a life, who is plagued by the fear of death, becomes an enemy to life everlasting.”

[...] Fleeing for his life from the foe, he will be known as a coward; shirking work, he will pass for a ne'er-do-well, he will become an enemy of the good. [...] No, what the proverb refers to is another kind of life. One that keeps the soul alive and the mind clear. If your body is alive but your soul is dead, words of reason will not reach you, and you will be incapable of earning your living by honest work.”

A loafer and a sycophant,
A hanger-on and an impudent fellow,
Valiant in his looks but craven in his heart,
Has no sense of shame […]”
If you are like that, do not imagine yourself to be alive. A righteous death will then be better than such an existence.
Abai Qunanbaiuly

Abay said that an infant only required two things in this life and those become essential needs. First is food, drink and sleep. And the other is having intense desire and unending crave for knowledge.

What is that?
What’s that for?
Why is he doing that?

— Abay,

“This is the natural desire of the soul, the wish to see everything, hear everything and learn everything.”

A Poem by Abai Qunanbaiuly (The Book of Words)

When dying,
I will not lament:
Alas, I have not tasted
This or that joy!..
Not torturing me with
regrets about earthly things,
I shall find solace
In the life to come.
A good child is a joy,
but a bad one is a burden.
Who knows what kind of child,
God will bestow on you?
Or haven't had enough
of the humiliation you have
Had to swallow all your life?

You might also like: Few Learnings From Verses Of Kabir (A mystical soul of 15th century)

Dashdorjiin Natsagdorj: 1 patriotic solid poem “my native land, Mongolia the beautiful!”

July 25, 2024September 24, 2020 by Lukesh Umak

Dashdorjiin Natsagdorj was a Mongolian revolutionary poet who lived from 17 November 1906 to 13 June 1937. He was one of the luminaries in the country that most of the lisps of herdsmen could sing his poem. Dashdorjiin founded modern literature of Mongolia.

Most of his collection was published from 1935 to 1961. The young man had a short life—only 30 years—but he was able to write poetry that was full of rhythmic emotions, including those that were patriotic, educational, revolutionary, and romantic.

One of his poem, My Native Land, grabbed the attention of the country lover. The poet could easily and instantly evoke the feelings of a patriot in any country lover. The poem also takes readers through some history of Mongolia, and he invaded its beauty in his words.

Poem: “My Native Land” by Dashdorjiin Natsagdorj

The fertile virgin-lands between Altai and Khangai
Lands of our eternal destiny where ancestors lie
Land grown mellow under the golden rays of the sun
Land grown eternal under the silver moon.

This is my native land
Mongolia the beautiful!
Homeland of our ancestors since the day of the Hsiung-nu
Land of great might in the days of the Blue Mongols

Land we become more accustomed to every passing year
Land where now the crimson flags flutter
This is my native land
Mongolia the beautiful!

Beloved country of us all who were born and die here
The enemy who dares invade our soil shall perish
Let us build our democratic (revolutionary) state on the land ordained
Then let march head high toward the brave future new world.
This is my native land
Mongolia the beautiful.

Also Read: “Letter To My Wife” A romantic poetry by Nazim Hikmet. To learn Indian culture, I recommend you to read Indian Poets in The History and their poems also the poems of Byron are unique, these Poems of Lord Byron quickly grab your attentions.

Nazim Hikmet’s Love in practice: “Worst Is When The Prison Inside.”

July 25, 2024September 23, 2020 by Lukesh Umak

Nazim Hikmet (b. 15 Jan 1902 — d. 3 Jun 1963) was a Turkish poet, scriptwriter, director and memoirist and his statement which always appeared in lyrical flow gained popularity in 20th century. Most of his work translated into English by Randy Blasing and Mutlu Konuk. His writing most of the time deeply concerned about the view of social and political and few of his verses find woman as an obstacle in career of men. Hikmet also acknowledged publicly that he shouldn't have been married.

Some of his poetry stands out in differentiation of love, which has two repelling sides. He Always appreciated for rhythmic flow of his statements.

In 1930, his definition of realism proved one of the best as following,

“The misery of mankind cannot be seen personal tragedies of the individual. We, writers have to deal with this in particular. Moreover, a person who live through no personal tragedies, who does not suffer for personal reasons cannot possibly suffer for the misery of mankind. And such a thing is not possible in actual conditions of the world. It would be artificial to introduce such a character in a literary work.”

Nazim received many criticisms not only from homeland but also from abroad. His romantic poetry has opposition sides. According to Hikmet there is much difference between Love in Theory and Love in traditionally. The theoretic love has human solidarity thus traditional love depicted as obstacle to inspiration of poet.
His thoughts mostly focussed on the love of universe and kind people of the planet.

In one of his poems, addressed to his second wife Piraye during he was jailed in Bursa Prison. He wrote to his wife that all the humans on this earth have the same love story like you and me but ours is not that harsh.

They have taken us prisoner. They have locked up. Me inside the walls, you outside the walls, but that is nothing. The most is when man carries knowingly, or not the prison inside him. Most people have been made to live like this. Honest, hard-working, good people who chosen to be loved as much as I love you

People out there had more harsh treatment than the couple (poet) had in their life but those are carrying prisons inside them. Nazim directed his poem of love and showed many concerns about them. While in jail, he wrote a letter to his wife.

Poem: “Letter to my wife” by Nazim Hikmet

My one and only your letter says:
“My head is throbbing, my heart is stunned!”
You say: “If they hadn't you,
if I lose you, I'll die!” You'll live,
my dear- My memory will vanish like black smoke in the wind.
Of course, you'll live, red-haired lady of my heart:
In the twentieth century, grief lasts at most a year.
Death — A body swinging from a rope.
My heart can't accept such a death.
But you can bet if some poor gypsy's hairy black spidery hand slips a noose around my neck,
they'll twilight of my last morning I will see my friends and you,
and I'll go to my grave regretting nothing but an unfinished song.
My wife. Good-hearted, Golden, Eyes sweeter than honey — my bee.
Why did I write you do they want to hang me?
The trial has hardly begun, and they don't just pluck A man's head like turnip.
Look, forget all this.
If you have any money, buy me some flannel underwear
My sciatica is acting up again. And don't forget,
A prisoner's wife must always think good thoughts.

This poem circulates a warm, deep feeling of love and the poet showed no fears. And someone could call it the power of love. Nazim don’t want his wife to do suicide. He convinced his wife that grief lasts a year, hardly in this twentieth century.
This poem at the end give us good message to those wives of prisoners who are feeble hearted. It is a booster of long-lasting love and care.

Also, Read Poem: “If You Were One Inches Long by Shel Silverstein” It is one of the mind-refreshing poems.

Sergei Yesenin: To die, in this life, is not new, And living’s no newer, of course.

July 25, 2024September 21, 2020 by Lukesh Umak

“Sergei Yesenin proved that despite having bad habits (heavy drinking and outburst publicly), his soul was clean. When any man tired of living human life and want to go away from depression, die is not new. All that defined in his last poem before he committed suicide.”

His full name was Sergei Yesenin (b. 3 Oct, 1895 –d. 28 Dec 1925) was a popular poet of 20s from Russia. Even with his writings, he was a kind of guy who could light up the room by his appearance and impressive nature of his style. Moreover, this was the man that lady could easily arouse by his presence. However, being a constant drinker and outburst publicly was his regular nature.
At the age of 19, he published his first poetry book “Beryoza” (The Birch Tree) in 1914 was popular among the children. The poetry lover used to described him as “A Gem of a peasant poet”.
Below, the last poem of Yesenin was written with his blood before he hanged himself (his death story is not true nor confirmed as a suicide recital).

Farewell, my good friend, farewell.
In my heart, forever, you’ll stay.
May the fated parting foretell
That again we’ll meet up someday.
Let no words, no handshakes ensue,
No saddened brows in remorse, –
To die, in this life, is not new,
And living’s no newer, of course.

Still, his one of the poems tells us how a young woman of a village in mid-summer gives birth to a baby. It travels to emotion that awaken us into a series of joyous feelings. Also, this poem had written in 1912 and was translated into English in 1982

Poem: "Barefoot" by Sergei Yesenin

Barefoot on Midsummer Eve in the forest yonder
Mother went with skirt tucked up in the dew to wander.
Her bare feet were stung by herbs blessed with magic power,
In the meadow grass she wept, painful was that hour.
Suddenly, she cried aloud, pain her body shaking,
Down she lay and on the spot gave birth to a baby.
I was born to sound of song, meadow grass tucked around me.
In a rainbow bright the sun every morning bound me.
Child of rural summer rites I grew wiser, bolder.
Magic-making eventide happiness foretold me […]

The suicide story of Yesenin is still an unsolved matter of conflict. His work was banned in the country for many years.

Also, Read Poem: “If You Were One Inches Long” By Shel Silverstein and Melancholy Life: Amy Levy Couldn’t Survive “Double D” War

Judith Wright: “We Are Hungry For More”

July 25, 2024September 19, 2020 by Lukesh Umak

Judith Wright (b.31 May 1915 — d.25 June 2000), the lover of nature, poet from Australia who gave and maintained quality, consistency and distinctiveness in her writings. She had obtained degrees in Philosophy and Psychology. “Moving Image” was first published in 1946, her poetry which got many appreciations.
In her most of the poetry, give a tang of silence, quietness of nature, river, birds and springs etc. From it, we already get a clue that how deep she was in love with nature. Judith had fathomless regard for the environment, and was also one of the founding members of Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland.

“We Are Hungry For More; If We Do Not Consciously Pursue The More, We Create Less For Ourselves And Make It More Difficult To Experience More In Life”
Judith Wright

Wright later published her short story “The Nature Of Love” She had special attachment to wildlife, environment and aboriginal things. She also had achieved Christopher Brennan Award (The Christopher Brennan Award is an Australian award given for lifetime achievement in poetry) in the year 1976 and Nobel Prize for her literature.
Read her beautiful poem from her first publication for which she also had received numerous recognition.

“Northern River” by Judith Wright

When summer days grow harsh
my thoughts return to my river,
fed by white mountain springs,
beloved of the shy bird, the bell-bird,
whose cry is like falling water.
O knighted with the green vine,
lit with the rock-lilies,
the river speaks in the silence,
and my heart will also be quiet.
Where your valley grows wide in the plains they have felled the trees, wild river.
Your course they have checked, and altered your sweet Alcaic metre.
Not the grey kangaroo, deer-eyed, timorous,
will come to your pools at dawn;
but their tamed and humbled herds will muddy the watering places.
Passing their roads and cities you will not escape unsoiled.
But where, grown old and weary,
stagnant among the mangroves,
you hope no longer — there on a sudden
with a shock like joy, beats up
the cold clean pulse of the tide,
the touch of the sea in greeting; the sea that encompasses all sorrow and all delight and holds the memories of every stream and river.

Also, Read: “The Bazaars Of Hyderabad” by Sarojini Naidu

Saint Kabir Das: “Searching For Crook i Met None…

July 25, 2024August 31, 2020 by Lukesh Umak

Saint Kabir Das sayings — Saint Kabir Das

Saint Kabir Das, a mystical soul of the 15th century who had spent his early life in a Muslim family. His followers claimed that he was born in womb from a widow and his mother left Kabir alone in the universe (as to escape her from the bruising of people and society) thus, the Muslim family of Kabir was his second parents.

However, this is a real traditional story of his birth. Das was born in Varanasi, one of the holy lands on the earth and exact date of birth is under conflicts. His quoted lines and saying are popular. The saint Kabir was one of the famous saint like Guru Nanak.

Thus, his followers in India called Kabir Panthis, they are occupied northern and central part of India. Despite his mystical powers, he was a great poet and writer. His writing includes, Bijak Sakhi (Novel), Kabir Granthwali and Anurag Sagar.

However, his early life from Muslim community, his verses and writings mostly influenced Bhakti of Hindu and Sikh religions. His spiritual teacher, Ramananda (his poems and writings found in Guru Granth Sahib), he was very influential saint and his teachings were rapidly grown in the north India.

He was also caught in the lane of a bay of criticized people for being negative on part of women. According to Kabir, women is Black Cobra, The pit of hell and prevents spiritual growth of man.

His poetry shed lights especially on karma of human and its fruit.

Few learnings from verses of Kabir Das (his verses are in Hindi and this is meanings of what Kabira says)

Some try reading spiritual books, novel day and night to become a saint but did not turn up into a saint. We also have to adapt and change our inners that is called inner engineering. And those who turned into saint they talk few words in a lovely tone (here Kabir has given importance to love).
When you have a God and Teacher in front of you to whom you will choose? Kabir says, teacher you are great, you teach us reasons of how to find God.
God, I don't want much property money and fame. Give me only enough to feed my family and any guest visit us should not leave empty stomach.
Your love and wishes never dies nor your heart gets fulfilled. Only body dies but never hope and desire.
Everyone prayer God in bad times, later nobody bothers to take his even names in good times. Do prayers in good times and never let bad days knock the door again.

One of his poem हीरा सोई सराहिये (Sleeping Diamond Appreciates) by Saint Kabir Das

Kavita's Melodies-Singer · Heera Sohe Saraahe, "Highway" Kabir Ke Dohe

Only the diamond is praiseworthy
who shines after bearing the blows of the hammer.

The fraud and deceptive men especially the ones who try to behave smarter than others. They always found cruel when tested.
Few who pass testing conditions successfully are truly praiseworthy ones.

You should show your intelligence only to those people who can understand it. It is idiocy to show your intelligence to idiots.

While most of the people care about how to look, intelligence. Ones can recognize a real gem even when it doesn't look good. (e.g., when a diamond soiled and it only looks like a stone).

हीरा सोई सराहिये
सहे घनन की चोट
कपट को रंगे मानवा
परखत निकरा खोट

हीरा तहाँ ना खोलिये
जहाँ कुंजड़ों की हाट
सहजे गाँठि बाँधी के
लगिये अपनी बात
हीरा सोई सराहिये…

हीरा परा बाजार में
रहा छार लपटाय
केतिहे मूरख पची मुए
कोई पारखी लिया उठाय
हीरा सोई सराहिये…

Shel Silverstein: “How much love inside a friend?”

July 25, 2024August 15, 2020 by Lukesh Umak

Sheldon Alan Silverstein (b. 25 Sep 1930ㅡd. 10 May 1999) was not only a great cartoonist but also a gifted hub of heart touching poems. He wrote fantastic poetry for children besides adults also keep on reading. But main importantly, today’s generation are still in love for his writings and drawings.

Being an Artist, Poet and Chicagoan, he was not just confined to his neighbours, states and his country but also his work travelled miles and published in many languages (more than 30 languages are the witness as on today). His book, “Where The Side Walk Ends”, is one of the famous. Thus, it was an actual world had begun for Silverstein.

Those days Shel’s cartoons were on cloud nine that Pacific Stars and Strips approached him and started working together. Nobody could say that military a man possess the heart of stones (they also could produce fun-loving poems that won the hearts of millions of kids and students of 19’s). It proved that a cadet can be also melted on feelings.
In the year 1957, ex-military man had become one of the leading cartoonists in Playboy magazine. His one of the famous books in the 1950 “Now Here is My Plan” had become best knows cartoon collection of the year.

Shel’s below quote is truly inspiring one that makes mankind think positively. However, It ended in the moral of karma that reflects like a mirror result. The man is equally responsible in contribution of the result of his karma. He gets the same thing in return what he had given to the human, animals or to the universe.

“How many slams in an old screen door? It depends on how loud you shut it. How many slices in bread? It depends on how thin you cut it. How much good inside a day? It depends on how good you live 'em. How much love inside a friend? It depends on how much you give 'em.”
Shel Silverstein

His one of the famous poem, If You were only one inches tall is the most recognizable and one of his popular works. The poem takes us to those memories when we had an under-developing brain. We just got then a thought to mimic or act like our friends and family members.
Heading to school need a ride and Shel’s advice and thoughts make us remembers especially this poem.

When a kind just finish learning walking, feel the urge for swimming and when a small stomach feels no weight of a big cake that sweet soul wants to eat without breaks. The artistic mind of Silverstein awesomely placed the verity of worlds sequentially that evoke the feelings in the natural way. It travels and explores the nook of every poetry lovers.

^{Image credit to Jessie Brugger from Instagram}

Poem: "If You Were One Inches Long" by Shel Silverstein

If you were only one inch tall, you'd ride a worm to school.
The teardrop of a crying ant would be your swimming pool.
A crumb of cake would be a feast
And last you seven days at least,
A flea would be a frightening beast
If you were one inch tall, If you were only one inch tall, you'd walk beneath the door,
And it would take about a month to get down to the store.
A bit of fluff would be your bed,
You'd swing upon a spider's thread,
And wear a thimble on your head
If you were one inch tall,
You'd surf across the kitchen sink upon a stick of gum.
You couldn't hug your mama, you'd just have to hug her thumb.
You'd run from people's feet in fright,
To move a pen would take all night,
(This poem took fourteen years to write--
'Cause I'm just one inch tall).

Also, Read Poem: “Bare Foot on Midsummer Eve” Sergei Yesenin

Sarojini Naidu: “To quench my longing I bent me low”.

July 25, 2024August 5, 2020 by Lukesh Umak

Sarojini Naidu (b. 13 Feb 1879 — d. 2 March 1949) was a not only Indian political leader, activist but also a great poet as well as a woman of India and celebrated nationally. She was one of the key figures of the Indian independence movement. Naidu aimed to help diminish the ruling of the British in India during the years of 1912 to 1947.
A prominent follower of Mahatma Gandhi and his cultural ideology not only like a true and obedient student. But also full supportive to Gandhi in all the aspects in decision-making to forming a better India.

*The brilliant student who used to keep many expectations from herself and Indian*

Education of Sarojini Naidu

Her education was not only limited to Indian territory but also crossed the boundary of the country at the age of 16. It was Nizam’s Charitable Trust (founder — Nizam Mahbub Ali Khan) who gave her a chance to complete her studies in England.

Sarojini was well worse with the culture of India and the condition of the nation at the beginning. A philosophic mind used to keep her eyes awake for the good reasons of the nation and its benefits. She had a successful inter-caste marriage which was happily approved by both the families.

Sarojini had a successive three years of travelling, while she visited different regions of India during 1915 and 1918. The motive of the travel was to give auspicious lectures on social welfare, the emancipation of women and bringing the clear awareness of the future of independence. And further evolution of nationalism in every person of India.

Her lectures were so demanding similarly inspiring ones that anyone could get motivated like she could yield a fruit of success from the brain of foolish and ignorance.
In short, her thought process was so simple and easily recognizable in one of her poems, In The Bazaars of Hyderabad.

“The Bazaars of Hyderabad" by Sarojini Naidu

What do you sell, oye Marchant?
Richly your wares are displayed.
Turbans of crimson and Silver
Mirrors with panels of amber,
Daggers with handles of jade
What do you weigh, oye Vendors
Saffron and lentil and rice
What do you grind oye maidens?
Sandalwood, henna, and spice.
What do you call oye Pedlars?
Chessmen and ivory dice.
What do you make oye Goldsmith?
Wristlet, anklet, and ring.
Bells for the feet of blue pigeons,
Frail as a Dragon’s-fly’s wing, girdles of gold for the dancers,
Scabbards of gold for the king [...]

The Bird of Time (available on Amazon): Songs of Life, Death, and the Spring are her fine collections of poems. This antiquarian volume contains a complete manual of the art of angling for roach, with comments on methodology, equipment, tactics, and other information useful.

Also, Read Poem: From “How To Live On The Planet Earth”