Old Papers

Some Treasures Unearthed from Dusty Shelves

I wrote of Writer's Block during my last post. But now I have a big bunch of tattered sheets of diary paper with my poems and writings that have not been soft copied. The earliest is a few poems in English and Tamil that I have written on November 8, 1986 and January 10, 1987 (when I was in my Class XII at C.S.I. Ewart School, Vepery, Chennai), in some carefully crafted neat handwriting. I don't yet have the mind to throw away the old diary sheets.

8.11.86: Extremes


In the many worldly battles which I fought
I emerged the victor in some
While I endured defeat heavily in the rest.
While my life was in undulations
Overjoyed in victory,
And depressed extremely when vanquished
I learnt a great secret.
It was one utterance of the Holy name
My eyes being shut to the joys and sorrows
To the victories and defeats
To any extreme, good or bad
Made me destitute of troubles
And peace reigned in my heart.

*****


10.1.87: The Fulfilling Elation

Oh God, Early in the morning I wake
When the sun generously donates her smiles to me
Out in the garden the dew drop is fresh
On the petals of the string veined red rose
On every leaf and every blade of grass
The cool shade of a blooming green tree
Is many a joy to me when - the sun through
Her spiteful arrows on earth
The cool breeze of the evening - a boon
To your creation
The still night with the argent moon
A coloured ring around it blanches
The diamond studded velvet screen of purple.
As I watch them, my heart is
Filled with an unknown joy.
I pray O God, to accept this faithful ecstasy
The elation which made my heart leap to my mouth
This joy which fills my heart will do
To compensate for the sorrows of future I endure.

******

(No Date, but must have been around the same time)

Television


Oh What demand the small box has got
Some watch for pleasure
Some watch to mock at
A source of knowledge for those
Who do not read human instructors
A bane for students
a boon for idlers
An excellent object to
Increase neurosurgeons
In short a Tele (near) vision
Is a very necessary evil precision.

*****