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Folk Songs
That is visible from here
This is visible from there
It is said the fencing is twisting
Let it twist on as it would be
Up up above, up up above
Down it rols on, it rols on
Rolling down is a rock from a hill high up
Move my little babe lest the rock crushes her.
Brave warriors shout together yonder over there
Does her dad join them and kill an enemy
There we go, hunting young men
When the Creator cried in the morn.
You dear children, oh my dear children
You bury me here with a little tender care
My Ngente village, a delightful abode
Never will I forget until I die
When· we enjoy the life of our Ngente village
How much we feel and long to be there once again
Scaring birds away in the paddy fields,
We play mock hunting with bamboo-made guns
We were warriors brave in these hill spurs
Playing our mock battles in the jhums,
As if we were warriors with arms so strong
We knocked everything right and left
Imitating lovers of Buang town
The cicada sings melody in yonder tree
Joyful harbinger of harvest time
Do hearts of lovers of Buang village beat
Filled with lonesome feeling when Cicada sings
High in a tree the sentimental strain
Painful, oh, painful beyond all bearing
earning for you like a young bird for its mother
I pine, I faint through all day long
Long is the day, nor shorter is the night,
I languish on my bed through the long hours
Pining for her who pines not for me
Could I but speak their tongues, fain would I ask
The birds and the singing cicadas of the air,
If ever a lover's yearning was subsistence enough
Deceive me not, be considerate,
If you are not for me let me go
My bewildered path like a fowl benighted.
Come, think, how sad, how very sad it is,
As though this transient life on earth we pass,
To fade and not to know the bliss of love
The trees on the hilltop sway in the wind,
Beloved, I fear lest our love should sway,
In the malicious wind of whispering tongues.
Manly as I go bravely,
Let the roaring ever grow louder and louder,
For me, unseen by others in the forest,
Then will I cut into pieces that fearsome tiger.
Just as I am killing the enemy,
Celebrating the head in the local yard,
On my head the hornbill's feather
Magnificently I move here and there.
You come and live in our ,:Darlung village,
Sprawling in the centre is the chief's house,
Sprawling in the centre is the chief's house,
The sound of a gong reverberates ever
Let's stop it, as enemy advances,
But death comes like a flood, nothing stands against it,
A traveller I would be and leave the place,
I'd like to see the court where judgement is carried out.
A big grand feast a richman performs
Resounding joy and laughter in the village,
Poor as we achieved fame on the day
Echoing over the hills are the chants our hunting victory
Singing for those who are laid on earth to return
Waking no more but Hawilo par be dear,
Like a mom-flower near Heavenly Lamb,
Forever they bloom as earthly sorrow goes away.
Let this unique plot be remembered,
A determined youth who intended to serve God,
Has now gone to his Heavenly abode,
Be it unforgettable Lalbiakliana.
So high is the price of Chawngvungi,
They refused the necklace I offered them,
Again they refused the gong I gave,
My precious sacred gong they demanded,
Oh Chawngvungi, your price unsurpassed all
Let my verse be as strong as whirlwind That devastating Diriallova of Aizawl city
May wreck Awithangpa's house by its blows.
Awithangpa of Maubuang replied in the satiric tone
Never fulfil its mission to hit the target house,
Arise then, the whirlwind of Buangkhawpui,
And storm the retreating Diriallova himself
How different is your drink from ours,
For your drink is made of d ry leaf of Loharbond,
That poor preacher quaffs it thirstily.
I wonder if Immanuel be starved,
Such a large amount of Sunday's recollection,
Is overflowing for him to grab alone.
Devotional Songs
Oh Lord Most Supreme
Oh, Lord most supreme, we praise and extoll you
You are our omnipotent and living God;
Friend of the oppressed, the poor, slaves and sinners,
Lord, Father and God to orphans and the needy
Precious Blood
Precious blood, precious blood,
Upon the Cross it flows,
Redeeming us from our sins.
Guilts are cleansed
The greatest sinners were washed awhite,
By the precious blood of Calvary.
Oh love-blood, precious blood,
That shows our heav' nly gate !
When it takes us to heav'n,
A ceaseless song would be;
Precious blood, blood, blood,blood, Oh, blood
We'll go on singing without ceasing.
Oh beautiful Mount Calvary,
Though the world looks down on you,
Much more than any of those hills,
I'd like it best
Joyous mount holiest of all holy places,
There flows the precious blood of God.
Wondrous Words
Wondrous words which I can't express
Is the story of Calvary,
How the real So11 of God,
Died for sinful man like me,
Oh Calvary Mount
I'll remember without ceasing.
Heavenly angels, Oh you holy ones
You are all great Seraphim,
Serving God happily each day,
Doing what he likes best,
Oh Calvary Mount,
Can't you tell us all about it ?
Oh my soul go to that mountain,
Day and night you may go live there
You'll see Lord on the Cross,
You'll see Him there alive.
Oh Calvary Mount,
Will tell you all about it.
Oh ! men of south, north, east and west
All of you here bow down at His feet,
All ye people of great and small,
Praise Him all the time,
Oh Calvary Mount,
Here he suffered for us all.
Then Vanzika Left Us
Famous and loving Vanzika now left us,
Weeping we mourn with his friends and relatives;
Here he left us to his heavenly home abode,
Dare not we hold him back, but look on as he passes.
Should the passing year deface his beauty,
Adventurous apostle of God in the north;
The. land should never forget his name,
Servant of God to lighten the dark comer.
Fellow believers behold and look yonder.
Heavenly trumpet resounds to welcome him;
For the Lamb of Calv ary has suffered for him,
His name be praised by all forever.
Precious Words of God
Lord. thy words are greatly precious.
Much more than treasures of the world.
Lord. thy word is most beautiful.
Much more than wordly pleasures,
Much sweeter than honey.
It pleases my soul greatly.
Just to pass the hare desert here.
Let thine words. alone be our guide
Would this be the shining cloud
That the Israelites followed
To lead us once again.
Its light has been shinning on.
In the vast whirling-sea of this world.
We're living in doubt all day.
Thy words lead us like star of peace.
That will show us the heav'nly path.
Then we will follow it on.
And not be lost eternally.
In the pool of great temptations.
Let them be with us. the foe of the world
Lord thou armed us with thine holy words.
Be it the armour of our soul.
We'll not fear Satan,
O Bright Star of David
O Bright star of David and of all his race
In glory hast thou preordained me a place,
The joy in my heart now expands like the sea,
Some day, beyond Jordan, I'll magnify thee.
To thee, 0 Redeemer, my song I'll raise
Let all creation be filled with praise;
Let every voice to thy glory sing,
And every creature its anthem bring.
Thy love did embrace me before I was made
And before I was born my ransom was paid;
When I ponder upon thy measureless grace,
I wish that the world could resound with thy praise.
Emmanuel, where is that heavenly place,
Where I shall forever look upon thy face;
I kneel and I pray now like Daniel of old,
In sorrow I long for that city of gold.
I am yearning to walk in the streets above,
Of the city thou hast created in love;
And dear ones clothed all in glorious' array,
Whom long I have lost I shall see them that day
O, Hallelujah ! Most Glorious Lord
O, Hallelujah! Most gracious Lord,
May your praise resonate in every corner,
The greatest and the most honourable King of every nation.
Speak again in the heart of people
Bring back those who have gone astray,
Wake up the sleepy,
0 Guide of the world, most glorious star.
Shine on the land of the lost and the sorrowful
King David and Leader Moses,
The great stars of the earth were gone !
Now Lord Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Our High Priest and our Star.
Before water and land came into existence
You were already the unsearchable God,
The sun, the moon and all the stars
Possess their lights through you.
Great authority and the highest honour,
He is worthy to have;
The lamb who was slain when the earth was fo rm ed
May He save the world with His blood
O, gift of the gracious God
That dwells in our heart,
The Spirit. who gives joy,
The wisdom of the world cannot contain.
The manhood of the wise.
Cannot comprehend you,
My saviour, your profound secret.
How deeper and how higher,
Than the wisdom of the world;
The word of the love of God,
Fills the heaven and the world.
O, I who have been a lost sinner,
Through His love.
He gives me the spirit. who is life.
O my soul, praise the Lord
O, Most Glorious, Hallelujah!
0 most glorious, Hallelujah!
We praise you, Immanuel,
All adorations and all sovereignty
Belong to you eternally
Hallelujah, Hallelujah Amen.
All people of the world, every nation and tribe,
With holy angels we are all of one mind
Through your blood of redemption.
We belong together to one another in the new Salem.
Halleluijah, Halleluijah Amen.
0 how deep and how high
Your wisdom and your love !
All the instrument of beautiful music of the spiritual world,
All the languages of heaven are inadequate to proclaim.
Halleluijah, Halleluijah Amen.
0 tell me, the great depth !
The manger and the cursed tree,
And the Crown in Heaven are linked together,
With the Eden of the earth and the new Salem
Halleluijah, Halleluijah Amen
I Dare Not Lay My Armour By
Surrounded by my foes am I,
I dare not lay my armour by;
The tempter tries with all his might
To make me a traitor in His sight
Emmanuel, each day and hour
Arm me with thine own spirit's power.
That is my strength. I may begin
To storm the darlc: fort of sin.
Lord. I am weak and battle-sore.
Often disheartened by the war,
But the thought of a victors crown.
Forbids me to lay my armour down.
On those whom thy blood did redeem.
I pray thee shed thy mercy's beam;
Locked in sin's dark fort here below-­
Come; Lord thou cannot let them go.
Io Calvary's redemptive flow.
I too can conquer every f oe;
And set free; a new life to win.
Those souls who are now enslaved by sin.
The light will brealc and darlc:oess fl ee;
Theo my Redeemer I shall see;
And I shall lay my armour down,
Oothe Thou me; Lord. in a spotless gown.
For God So Loved the World
For God so loved this world of ours,
That He gave His only son;
By Whoever puts His trust in Him,
Everlasting life· can be won
Most wonderful, a Counsellor
His name is Prince of peace,
Everlasting Father,
True God is He, evermore the same.
Truly do we call Him Wondrous,
Rightly name Him Peaceful Prince;
For He seeks to reconcile us,
Longs to save us from our sins.
Now, God's mercy like a river,
Flows and swells through every place,
And my heart is overflowing,
With a new song to His praise
He Gave His Life
He suffered agonies,
On Calvaiys distant bilL
And through His death for sinners' sake
Revealed His Father's will
How pn:cious was the sacrifice;
He made upon a cross on high.
The Son of God laid down His life;
For men condemned to die.
Why should the Son divine
Die on that shameful tree?
There was no other way in which
A sinner could be free.
His pn:cious blood was give8>
He conquered death and helL
The great salvation found in Him
F.ach human tongue should tell
My soul, tum to the Cross
look on that holy hilL
Be clothed in living faith and love
Let praise thy spirit fill
A Sinless One Midst Sin
As man among men He came to dwell.
A Sinless One "midst sin and woe;
He lay there as a sleeping child
In Bethlehem long ago.
We'll raise our song and loudly sing His praise;
And. through the Babe of Bethlehem.
May peace on earth now reign.
The Shepherds came; wise men sought Him.
Before his poor cradle kneeling;
Angelic songs resounded loud.
A bright new star was shining !
The cords of love are drawing me
To go to where my Jesus lay.
The star that shame can never set
It shines on us today.
Of God's true Son incarnate there
What human tongue or skill can tell ?
I'll love for evermore the One
Who came down to earth to dwell.
In this earthly life so dreary
I am desolate and weary,
But the Lamb is my Redeemer­
Soon I'll be with Him forever.
How my soul repeats the story,
How I long to see His glory,
In that free and lovely dwelling
With His saints in joy.
Though I am so poor and helpless,
Glorious hopes support my weakness,
And the wells of joy and gladness
He has opened for my sadness.
Thou Art My All in All
Could I see, 0 my Redeemer,
In Thine anguish, love so tender,
I would find Thine all abundant
Grace in every way sufficient.
I am sinful and unworthy,
Yet thy matchless love did find, me
Gave me life and joy eternal
Through Thy saving power.
0 Lord Jesus, grant the vision
Splendid of that holy city
Where all nations dwell in union,
Truly reconciled in Calvary,
Through Thy great humiliation
I obtained a rich possession.
Saviour guide lead me onward
To Thy land of love.
Earthly pleasures fade and perish,
Earthly joys and glories vanish
For the glory of His presence.
The yearning of my heart is intense
Earthly joys no longer hold me
There's a nobler theme to rouse me;
Soon with songs that last forever To the Lamb I'll sing.
With Joy We Shall Meet
On high where Our Lord reigns there is brightness,
Divine love ever new,
Heavenly flowers all fragrant and unfading
Giving pleasures that's true.
With joy we shall meet in His presence,
White as the angels around the throne,
Sorrow and sadness all transfigured
Nothing but joy can ever be known.
Dark clouds often gather all around me
Before life's sun grows dim,
But earthly sorrows and joys will vanish,
When I shall meet with Him.
As I draw nearer to my heavenly · goal,
The world fades from my sight
Even now the flowers are spreading their fragrance
From that land of delight.
The face of the Saviour, wounded for me,
I shall see enthroned then,
He reigns, the redeemed shall sing His praises,
Halleluijah, Amen.
Nature Poems
To the Wind
0, Whither have you gone?
Tell me, 0 Wind, whither have you gone?
Howling wild in the dead of night,
Neath the sensous glow of moonlight,
You tossed and you teased our banyan tree;
Could I but gaze and see
Your face, 0 invisible one!
Tell me, whither have you gone?
The swaying trees, bamboos and weeds,
In one accord bent down their heads,
As if they're yeilding to follow,
Wherever you chance to blow;
Undeter'd where did you_go off?
Are you scared of an unseen monster?
Our Fair Mizo Hill
Fair Mizo Hills, thou art like the fairest dream-land,
O'er thy hills and dales reigneth abiding peace,
Here flowers bloom, the sweet scent of joy blows in breeze,
Tis of thee we sing, land of beauty; our Mizo land.
Yes, sweet tis of thee our Mizo hills,
Here the cup of joy we drink, 'midst
The blooming trees o'ver thy mountains and summer's haze
People from every hill live in perfect harmony,
Oh, beyond compare you are, our fair Mizo hills.
I Jere in day of yore we dwelt in fear of spirits,
I Iere we passed the dark ages in fear of foes,
With the night gone, now the dawn of freedom greets thee
Joy and peace are entwined in thy hills and dales.
With our harps and strings resounding with one voice
Sweet and loud would we sing of our cherished land;
Let our voices go resounding from shore to shore,
Sing ye, 'tis of the land before all lands to cheer and praise.
Arise, youth of my dear country, march ye forward,
Rise, motherland, to show thy beauty and charm;
With God's blessing on us through all ages to come,
Come, let us all rise, ever marching forward to win.
The Orchid
To Wild Cherry Tree
Chirstmas comes to mark the Lord's birthday,
1lai:za,wng begins to sprout and to bloom;
Nursed by winter's light and night's clear dew,
Every morn it blooms more prettily;
1lai:za,wng flower, pretty as young maids face,
I'll call you 'Fair Bloom' as your nickname;
I wish you could keep blooming for ages,
And be the famed non-fading flower.
Come, see how it adorns our outskirt !
Bees and butterflies in its boughs,
Birds and other winged denizens,
Swarm its boughs for yeast free juice,
Keep on blooming, flower without peer,
You are Creator's special creation !
While the bright Sun is gone down the west
Do the fairies haunt you for repose?
Fair Bloom, too short is your sojourn,
Tossing in the wind like a tassel;
The moon above will renew itself,
Fair Bloom will then wither and drop off;
Oh, What a waste, just to fade and die,
Rise again with renewal life to bloom,
Oh, why does Khuanu create all other
Beauties with form also merely to fade ?
Lonely Cottage
Our forlorn cottage facing the east,
There stood afar ·'midst pine trees,
Autumnal cicada sings sweetly in the air,
Loneliness and an air of distress surround us.
Suange is the cottage that stood aloof,
The solitary, haunted, quiet site is ari institution,
Such wonderful lessons were learnt by us
Which the English School could never teach.
Dear ones dared not enter the cottage,
The boarders were not allowed to speak,
Like a deserted place of one who died,
Deep silence reigned here excluding all villagers.
Creator's Perfect Plant
Who rules over nations
Over land and seas ?
Who made heaven and earth
Man and beasts alike ?
Birds and insects, trees and plants,
Green foliage and brilliant flowers;
They are all his handiwork.
The golden sun rising in the east,
Ever follows its course in the sk y;
Sets over on the western shore
Brings spring and autumn bright.
Shining moon in the nocturnal sky,
Starry heaven for all to gaze.
They are all His handiwork.
Who can tell terms of money the worth
Of the rain that falls within a few moments of time?
All the wealth of nations
Is far too small to pay for it.
The sun, the wind and the wide, wide seas,
Islands, mountain ranges, hills and valleys -
They are all His handiwork.
The flower of our youth and senility,
Our time to be happy and time to cry;
We share the same joys and sorrows.
Both rich and poor.
The blessing of heaven and earth
Are showered on us equally.
They are all His handiwork.
In his providence he cares for all.
Both the low and the privileged;
. Whate'er our stations impartial the death
It takes us back to the dust.
Passing through the Stygian dark
To the land of delight -
They are all His handiwork.
Our Beauteous Land
On the hills of our beauteous land,
Blossoms harmoniously sway and bend;
Dancing to the tune of love with glee,
While the gentle breeze keeps blowing free;
Creatures sing their songs of praise galore,
To the Creator Lord they so adore.
Summer, autumn, winter and spring,
The cycle of seasons for us all to sing -
Songs of love in our fair-land so dear;
Where the smiles and iaughters attune with cheers,
Lovely flora and fauna abound.
On the hills and down the vales around.
Count the blessings from Heaven above,
Showered down upon us with love
Count the colours in the Rainbow fair -
Crowning of the hills up high in the air;
Keep on counting all other beauties,
The gifts of our Lord, so bounteous !
Though blessed children of the Lord we are,
Lo ! we've gone astray from Him afar;
Misbehaving on other creatures,
It's against His Will what we do against nature
Now we hear plaintive cries in the deep,
Begging us for mercy while they weep!
Purvaiya-The East Wind
From my birth place in Mizoram
Situated in a remote area of East India,
I join in where the Purvaiya is blowing swiftly;
We come together - Assamese, Manipuri, Mizo, Tripuri
And the host community of West Bengal - we are happy
All sections tied together by East Wind.
Lo, look there ! who are singing happily on one platform?
The Purvaiya bonds together all in one.
We have one voice and we have one foot.
All tributaries are flowing in the same valley of Purvaiya,
To join the ocean of the National Mainstream.
Let's go onto western countries and around the world '
The East Wind will never die and will blow forever '
While the earth remains in the universe.
Love Songs and Contemporary Poems
Fairest Lover
When I think pining for you is over,
It lingers all the more day and night;
Making me lonely you fled aflame,
All I am languishing with love for you.
The Departed Love
The blossoming trees have drooped and wither' d,
Reminding me of our union flown past;
Oh, could I but recall those bygone days
Fain would I hold you sweet in my arms
The purple haze that adorned the hills,
And the bright gleam of the sinking sun
Awaken the bitter-sweet memory,
Of the one I bade a sad farewell.
True Love
The long dark night is past !
All the gloom and labour,
Like a cloud of exhaust vapour
Are cleared away at last !
In the eastern region,
Lo, the sun is rising;
With it, joy comes creeping,
From our heart's horizon.
Are you sore distressed my friend ?
Never bemoan your fate;
To suffer now for true love's sake
Is to be happy in the end.
Chemtatrawta
Upon a brook, a gurgling brook,
Chemtatrawta sat on a stone,
Honing his dao to make it sharp.
Upon the stone he sat on.
'What is that noise?" a young prawn cried,
As of someone honing a dao?
Upon my nerves, surely, it grates,
And set my nippers· on edge."
From his hiding the prawn espied,
A leather bag (What a bag!),
Skimming the water as it swung
Pendulum-like, to and fro
Nearer it came - the prawn I mean,
Towards the bag (Oh! What a bag!),
The young prawn smiled and then withdrew,
Came again much nearer now.
The bag still swung pendulum-like,
Skimmed the water, swallow-like;
The young prawn stalked it stealthily,
Prime its nippers for the nip
Alack a-day! Alack! I say,
For the poor, ill-fated bag!
The nippers clicked, the bag jumped up
With the man who honed his dao.
As might a boy his teacher scolds
Vent his anger on his book,
So did that man Chemtatrawta
Vent his rage on a bamboo!
As might a boy his teacher scolds
Vent his anger on his book,
So did that man Chemtatrawta
Vent his rage on a bamboo!
Vented his fury and cut down
The harmless, blameless bamboo,
Lovingly entwined and festooned
By a fond, loving kha-um.
As did that man Chemtatrawta,
Vent his rage on the bamboo,
So did the kha-um vent his rage
Upon a wild fowl below.
The kha-um hit the poor wild fowl
A sound blow on its coccyx;
The wild fowl, made wilder by this,
Scratched asunder an ants' nest.
The furious ant, blind with fury,
Sought for victims far and wide,
Chancing upon a sleeping boar,
Bit its exposed testicles.
The sleeping boar thus roused from sleep,
Seethed and boiled with furious rage,
Gored down with its tusks a plantain tree
Where a bat had its lodging.
The blind bat blubbered bitterly,
Flew about in blind fury,
And met by chance an elephant
In whose nose it found refuige.
The elephant was none too pleased,
To lodge a bat in its nose;
Sneezing, sniffing and trumpeting
It knocked down a widow's house.
The poor widow, now homeless,
Boiling with impotent rage,
(As you would all, in her place)
Dirtied the spring waterhole.
The chain of events had now come
To the point where village folks
Could not ignore the consequence
Cause of what the widow did.
And so the village council met,
(The sixteenth August being past)
The poor widow was first summoned
Before that august council
Why did you, they asked the widow,
Defecate above the spring?
Why because, she promptly answered,
The elephant knocked down my house.
The elephant was then summoned,
It sneezed, sniffed and stamped about;
For what it did to the widow,
If said, the bat was all to blame.
The blinking bat was next brought in;
It told them how the cruel boar
Had felled the the plaintain where it lodged
And deprived it of its home.
The outraged wild boar then came in,
And grunted in a hurt tone
Had the ant stung your testicles You'd all have done what I did!
The nestless ant was then brought in,
And in a shrill voice it cried,
Had the wild fowl destroyed your nest You'd have been no· less furious!
The wild fowl next came strutting in,
In a loud, cackling voice said,
Had a kha-um hit your coccyx You'd destroy any ants' nest!
Still bruised and sore, the kha-um came,
I ask you, dear sirs, it said,
Whose fault was it that I fell down When Tatrawta felled my bamboo?
Chemtatrawta was next summoned
To explain why he had felled
The bamboo that stood by the brook
That the kha-um had so loved.
He hemmed and hawed, Chemtatrawta,
Dear sirs! he said, "if a prawn
Had nipped your testicles would you
Have cared which bamboo you felled?"
The council was shocked to hear this­
For man's honour was at stake-
Send for the prawn quickly, they said,
'We'll, cure its audacity."
The prawn came in, pale and frightened,
Promptly it dropped on its knees,
Pardon me, sirs, pardon, it cried,
I'll never do it again.
For the moral of this story
We shall tell you just this one;
Do not meddle, do not meddle
With a swinging, swinging bag!
Where is the Truth ?
The heaven in its glories,
The earth clothed in beauty
Adorned with wealth untold;
Lo! the wide wide seas where Leviathan plays,
The Deep where the precious pearl unfolds,
All creatures and lands and seas· ,
Birds of the air with woods and bamboos ,
Morning dews and scattering mist -
Truth ? Not there.
Wealth from the womb of the earth,
Gold and diamond galore
Are but shadow of the Creator's heart.·
Among myriads of races
Of creeds and faiths under the vaulted sky;
Men of great strength, valour and brave watriors,
Belles beautiful, sweet scented flowers , ·
Skilled handiwork, perfect in form, with deadly arms,
Are but to perish and be no more.
I look everywhere
I listen constantly,
I utter words after words
From one end of the earth
To the other and I roam pondering,
To see Truth, I run helterskelter ;
To pleasure houses and public squares,
Drunken brawls and noisy crowds
They are nothing but slothful arrogance.
In market fairs well oiled greedy fac1;•s,
Vied ·endlessly with profiteers.
Houses of learnings ! producers of swollen brutes,
The wisdom and knowledge they profess
Are nothing but empty fraud.
Selfish seekers of positions.
Oh ! Failures, but wise double-edged tongues
Seekers of pleasures in their prime,
Wiles of youth - these are but van;ty.
Honourable Justices, in their dignifed robes
Sitting on the throne of authority,
Wearing a crown of oppression and injustice
With golden maces in their hands they rule supreme.
In their temples the preacher repeats.
Nothing but words and words;
Worshippers of idle thougths and fancy.
The rich are unsatisfied with their wealth.
Bereaved homes resound with wailing and self pity.
The wide open heaven, the sun the moon,
Countless stars are empty;
Like me the dwellers of this continent
Are without hope-waiting for the end to come,
I cry aloud with no avail.
When I keep quiet, foolish me !
Behold my merriment recedes too soon,
Others dance and shout with joy :
They mistake what they see for Truth .
When I come to my senses
I learn God is the Truth,
I sit I stand, then I sit down,
In joy I leap and bounce;
I shut my eyes and ears to the world,
I have seen, and now I know.
The Eternal, the Everlasting,
The Creator without creator, the Former with no former.
The immortal. He only is the Truth.
Oh! Delhi
While nations poised for spoils,
Plan destruction for imagined wrongs;
Count their armies and cannons,
Might is right' said they.
But you, 0 ! Delhi, city of peace;
Sits serene undisposed to aggression;
Messenger of peace to all nations,
With your watch-word-' peace on Earth'.
The great Moghuls of old did rule supreme,
· Built the Red Fort strong and secure;
Under foreign domination lasting,
Her glories passed - we mourn.
Your sages now roam your streets in peace,
The peaceful Jawans match in colourful arrays;
Men of all tribes within your borders,
With happy music procession joined.
Mizo, Naga, Garo and Khasi from the east,
Down to wave-tossed boulders of Kumari on the South
From the Gate of India on the west,
To the snowy mountains on the north.
With one accord we march together,
We drink your nectar, Oh, how sweet !
Should your enemies attack you,
We shall sing a victory song under your flag.
0 Delhi, where mercy seat is ensconed,
Your sceptre with flowers of love entwined;·
Men of all faiths within your soil
Are joined together in the mainstream of Nation.
Bonded by all embracing statue,
When hostile forces threatended you;
With a smiling face she countered,
They dropped their guns in shame.
0 ! Delhi, send forth your sceptre of love,
To all men of parliament;
Your peaceful hands are extended,
With olive branches for all to share.
Like dew may your healing love fall on all Nations,
Let the wind of peace blow over land and seas;
With lips of love kiss away the hates of enemies,
May struggling nations find their peace through you.
A Soldier's Prayer
Browned off and feeling ill at ease
And far from home and comforts here
When nothing suits, nothing can please,
I close my eyes and say a prayer.
I pray for peace and home and you,
Rest from this savage world of war;
Pray for a life we'd live we two,
When we our joys and sorrows share.
Pray for a home with one I love ,
A girl who's now waiting for me;
Yet as I pray, planes fly above,
Death in the air, on land, on sea.
In this mad world it seems my prayer
Is hopeless and so far away;
As war drag on from year to year,
And nights of horror crowd each day.
The day will come; it's sure to come
We must wait patiently and strong -
To face with courage, planes and bomb,
To fight the 1 war and right a wrong.
And then peace comes here once more,
When guns are silent, man is free;
When ships shall sail on India's shore,
When wars are done, and life's born anew.
Then I'll come back to you, my cleat,
With you I'll stay, and never roam·
The war has taught me all too clear,
That there's no place like home, sweet home.
Spirit of Night
What makes the night so hungry-
Hungry for all unwanted things of light !
Light becomes dim at night, May be-
Be in a certain corner, in a corner so special, yet unmarked
Unmarked spot of the' day, ah !
Ah ! where night's agent starts groping -
Groping in the dark.
What makes the night so angry,
Angry night ! to do and to react­
Reaction which is so bitter,
Bitter for someone to receive the gift !
Gift of the night, to a particular prey,
Prey of the unforeseen, suppressed temper !
Temper of the most common type.
What makes the night so loving,
Loving ? 'Cause it brings along - charms !
Charms, by the light of the moon,
Moon hangs upon the cheek of innocent,
Innocence ! For it leads to experience.
Experience, for night has a thousand eyes,
Eyes ! Sparkling, so acquainting with the night.
What makes the night so boring ?
Boring for someone who feels deserted;
Deserted ! Yes, from the night's meaner beauties,
Beauties ! shades of the night are falling,
Falling over the face of starved lips !
Lips, which do nothing, but to bite,
Biting from the back, mumble and stare.
Then I ask of you, beloved spirit of night !
What makes me ask of those,
Oh, tell me in ·a softer manner,
Spirit of Delight and Sorrow .... tell me.
Oh ! Spirit of tht: Night,
Thou weave dreams of joy and fear,
Which make you so Terrible and so DEAR !
To Mother Teresa
Mother of the poor, wretched and dying people,
The world needs your valuable service and comfort.
You have brightened all the dark corners,
You have brightened the hearts of people.
Your smile, love, compassion, care and messages,
Will live on until the end of our lives.
You· are the real salt of the earth for Christ,
Messenger of peace, Well done on earth, Sweet Mother.
To the Day
Now here's the day !
A time when everything is clear,
Cause things are there as th ey should
Light being an instrument of the day.
Each new day brings hope,
Hope for a better living,
Life on earth is but based on dreams,
Day-dreaming is what one can't avoid consciously
Or unconsciously, one is dreaming for one's betterment.
Life is but hope for a better future
Enjoyment being the last resort,
And careless life will be followed by remorse,
Remorse for what ones has done.
Oh! New day!
What things, good things are coming along with you,
Riches, pleasure and dignity are calls for today
For we are all running mad after money-
Money buys, Yes, it buys simply .... no more
Can't you make a sudden flight to greatness
Cause greatness pays !
If you can bring such greatness, mon ey will welcome you
Or you'll come with honesty, righteousness, innocence
And with a humble heart with dignity, but
Not finding any shelter to take rest -
Such things never find a suitable abode.
Oh ! Heart, heart !
Ah ! my soul knows
The future triumph of Virtue over vice in the end,
But, now we are like this, seeing like this .....
We are here as we are, in front of the stage,
Staring clearly at the wonderful events of the day,
For our own eyes can see in the light
Deceitful : 1983
Deceitful is the physical appearance,
Your first reading of the character
May not come true to your surprise,
It may be different still,
Again in your third assessment;
Better watch and think,
Crown no fame to a wrong head.
Deceitful is the sudden passionate love,
Get not the very first love alone;
Rather a renewed love is passionate,
Sweet are the usual persuer's claims,
Examine the nature of expression,
Smooth is the path of a loaded mind,
Cause experience makes a man smart.
Deceitful is the honey mouth,
Slip not to the tip of the tongue;
Easily won - easily go confound
Readymade love - a fearsome pit;
Plunge not in the pool of crocodile's tears,
Remember that real Beauty is Truth,
Wise is the man who knows the Perfect Beauty.
Come Closer :' 1981
Dear friends of mine, come, come closer,
Come, let's walk side by side;
Learing and playing together,
Facing and tackling our problems,
Having definite aim in life.
Together toiling for our dreams,
Fighting it on without stopping;
To achieve what we longed for,
For today is a very special day,
So, let us be firm and happy.
true and just to all,
open and sociable;
Let us be frank and meaningful,
Let us be brave to fight. worldly evil foes,
Let us be strong and firm in our righteous stand.
Our Last Rendezvous