POETRY
The Expedition
The tall reeds
Of the pond
Play a little tune
As a swan
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Picture by Saman Sri Wedage |
Brings out her little
Black cygnets
On their first trip
Into the wide world
The sun shines warmly
And the water sparkles
The sky is lovely blue
Little insects glide over the water
Everything is a wonder
To the little birds
Who had been in hiding
All their lives
Until now.
Nillasi Liyanage
Seeker
He walks in pain
Blistered feet on rock
Trudging forward
Weary tendons
Stretched aching muscles
Dust rise up to wind
Swirls, agitate the throat
Obliterate road up front
Strong burning light
Heats the road below
Clouds pass unobserved
His face focused forward
He looks seeking water
Parched tongue
Sweating brow
Burning skin
Heated blood
Agitate seeker's mind
The vision clears
Dust separate
The road is open
He walks again
He seeks, but none
Knows his destination
Miran Perera
Sacrifice
Charming evening silence at home
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“Piping down the valleys wild Piping songs of pleasant glee,
On a cloud I saw a child”
-William Blake |
Mild sandal water fragrance came
Hall floor carpets spread entire
Centered illuminated Pirith Mandapaye
Sudden illness deviated from maiden life
Universal bodies still fail invention line
Slow process mankind unfortunately face
Finally quietly passed away marking date
Children, girls innocent needs care always
So small cannot gauge plight in thoughts
Remember Ma walking to school every mornings
Sad absence politely handled in grandma arms
Pirith Chanting earning merits for Damayanthi mother
Illness prevented Mayanthi and Gayanthi children in fever
Both in bed arranged by grandmother
Relations, visitors searched them for praying matter
Girls both healing with mothers love in kindness
In bed besides heaven gifted mothers arms
They earned lost love, warmth, joy and passions
Lucky mother Kosala sacrifice herself with children need
University life needs many years learning medicine
Young beautiful girls and boys absorbed in valuable time
Attaining higher aim in Hippocrates high name
Kosala in conquest her mind human pani-sane
Goddess Lakshmi
You showed me
Your divine grace
When I stood that day
In the dark, crying
So alone and sick
The flickering flames
Of the oil lamps
Lighted at your shrine
The soft rustling
Of the Bo-leaves
Sounded like
Tiny bells
Beckoning me to enter
As I stood looking at
Your beautiful
Dark form, entralled
Something fell
To the silver flower tray
With a loud tinkle
You had dropped the
Loveliest flower
For me to say
You heard me!
Kusum Rajapakse
Visit to Niagara
'Twas a beautiful sunlit Summer morn,
We visited unforgettable Niagara falls,
Hordes of tourists arrive in buses, trains and flights,
To catch a glimpse of this impressive sight.
Falls located in the mid-O'-Niagara river,
That connects two great lakes Eric and Ontario,
Bordering both American and Canadian lands,
It's one of the natural wonders of the world.
Unceasing sounds of murmur of rapids,
Still reverberate in my mind,
'Tis the largest, not because it's tallest,
But because wider than any other fall.
There's magic in the mistic atmosphere,
One can enjoy a ride in "Maid of the Mist",
Diesel powered boat, sailing on the river,
Where visitors really enjoy the cruise.
Two main falls, flank the Nigara proper,
American falls and Canadian horse-shoe fall;
Water travel down Niagara river to Ontario,
Then thru' river Lawrence to Ocean Atlantic.
S. G. Ratnayake
A holiday in Nuwara Eliya
Away from the maddening noise of rolling traffic
Relieved from the trickling sweat of Colombo heat
One can enjoy a pleasant holiday in soothing comfort
in the salubrious climes of Sri Lanka
Hill country is not that far
A visitor can go to Nuwara Eliya town
Starting off in the morning by car
and reaching there by noon
The journey can be quite exciting
The scenery in view would be enchanting
There are lush and green tea plantations
among undulating meadows and mountains
In colonial days, it was called "little England"
It was the home for planters coming to the island
Nuwara Eliya is an ideal holiday resort
with several places of varied interest
Lake Gregory is a pleasing sight
when the day is clear and bright
a thrilling experience would be a boat ride
and back to the bank in a quick stride
Legendary Haggala garde is a few miles away
It can be reached by road or railway
It has a natural setting with many plants and trees
including both Sri Lankan and foreign species
This Botanical garden abounds in beauty
all flowers are rich in colour and variety
There is a special area called the 'rose garden'
The roses there are as fresh as roses in June
Horton plains, a natural park, is a visitors' choice
It is a green plateau, a highland paradise
Rich in fauna and flora, it is a natural splendour
and there, young hikers would love to wander
One end of the plain is called the 'world's end'
It falls abruptly deep down to a valley
unfolding a panoramic view
In the distant horizon, a range of mountains ascend.
Leslie Nanayakkara
Do not weep
Grower:
I planted you with care
On a sunny morning
Few minutes passed, unnoticed to any
In the midst of sun light
Slight drizzling began
Like dew drops falling
And wetted you enough
I saw happiness emanating
Your happiness - was my happiness too
To keep you happier and happier
I watered you daily without a miss
I nursed you with care and affection
And during the passage of time
You bloomed out with petals of white
Blossom and fragrance spread with scent
Appreciated and admired by all humans, birds and bees
You made the environment pleasant and sweet
I love you Jasmine - I love you!
Jasmine:
Your kind words are not kind to me
It is true you helped me to grow
That's with a motive ulterior
To pluck my sweet and beautiful flowers
It ruined, oh! ruined by beauty
Grower:
No it is not true - not true
And not correct at all
Do not use unkind words
To your master
My sweet Jasmine - sweet Jasmine - sweet Jasmine
Jasmine:
It is true, true and not false
The other day - you remember
A small thorn pricked your skin
You cried with tears rolling
Another day
And ant stung your toe
You cried with pain
You considered not, my pain a pain
You plucked my flowers
And hurt me
And my beauty vanished away
I weep - I weep - I weep daily
Because of you
Grower:
My dear Jasmine - My dear Jasmine
I plucked your beautiful and scented flowers
To offer to the most reverend and reverent one
The super human of all - The Buddha
Venerated by all humans, Yakkas and Devas
Who attained Enlightenment
Even if I did not pluck you
You wither and drop down without any value
I gave you a value
By offering to the most Valued One
The Buddha
If you are not happy with my words
I will not bother you again and again hereafter
Jasmine:
If so sir,
I regret my harsh words
Unknowingly uttered
I will bear my pain - I will bear my pain
You are free - free to pluck
Any day - any time
I will not grumble or weep in future
For it is for the Buddha
The most reverend of the reverend
Grower and Jasmine
Sadu....!, Sadu...! Sadu...!
May the Jasmine flowers be a Offering to You
C. Abaya Tenne
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