Poetry

Humanity

While we were comfortably asleep
You crossed the Nandikadal lagoon
In cold waters neck deep
To beard the Tiger at his own den.

The operation most humanitarian
In the annals of history ever undertaken
To rescue a civilian population
Deserves the gratitude of the Nation

Though you carry a gun in your arms
Compassion is not altogether lost
We saw how you helped the fleeing hostages
An act of humanity worth your salt

What difference is there in a sigh or tears
Of Muslims, Sinhalese or Tamils
Though you risk your life fighting terrorists
Your love towards needy is par excellence P.S. Panagoda.

A land of hope and glory

This land of ours,
Like no other, it has been told.
Has had her share of bad times
For centuries bygone,
Under foreign yoke
And forced to face, grin and bear
The wrath, unrelentingly lashed out,
Yet, came she along, unscathed.

This land of ours,
A blessed one like no other,
Had times again, disasters renewed,
For decades three or more,
Faced many vicissitudes and hardships
Of untold magnitude.
Her progeny had to suffer much,
Death, destruction from terror, then looming large
Many did and have subscribed to this surreptitiously
Without any knowledge, so they said.

Then suddenly rising, strong and tall,
A godsend, indeed mightier than all,
Bringing with him a new lease of life,
To all those torn and driven by strife,
Transforming this thrice blessed land
Into a haven of peace and tranquillity, for long. J.I. Rosairo.

One in a million

When others look away
Stealthily he comes along
With a loved one in tow
?How are you dear? inquires he
Is it a dream I wonder
No, I see him as large as life.

From the time of a lovely babe
Climbing window frame
Tearing books and papers
Tumbling over racks of books
Not a lie would he utter
Softly silently when grew up

Compassion and warmth to the forgotten ones
Love and shelter to the abandoned ones
Embodiment of virtue mirrored in one
Path you traverse ?d be the safest one.

Prosperity, health, wealth and happiness
May all come unceasingly along
Every deity in heaven and earth
Along with the blessings of the Triple Gem
Protect him forever all through life
For he is one in a million. SJ

Fascinating gifts of nature

I sit under a towering tree
at day break
in the sprawling dew bathed field
and admiring the wonders of nature
around me.

The trees look fresh and green
and the flowers shine out
in a spectrum of glorious colours,
that dance in the cool gentle breeze.
Birds of different hues and feather
nestling among the leafy branches,
twitter and sing its welcome cadenza
to their mates in joyous expectation.

The playful squirrels
chase each other up and down,
squeaking and frolicking
in gay abandon.

The warm morning sun
peering over the purple hills yonder,
filters its golden rays
through the rustling leaves
and the soft white clouds,
that sail across the deep blue sky,
forming meaningless patterns,
is really enchanting.

Watching these unique gifts of nature
with immense delight
that Mother Nature offers,

I feel I am,
in an entirely different world
of serenity and trauglity. Sunanda Mahawela

Hail! Sri Lanka

Hail! A bright and hopeful dawn
Let bells of freedom sing!
May the people?s victory
New life to Lanka bring
Our brave and valiant heroes
Marched with heads held high,
The pride of Mother Lanka
Determined ?to do or die?
May our war torn land have peace
From fear and hate be free
May all Sri Lankans learn to live
As one big family

Let?s rally round our leader,
With him let?s firmly stand,
To uproot years of tenor
From our beloved Motherland
May he be blessed with guidance
By the divine unseen hand
To make our much loved country
A strong, united land.

Let?s all join hands together
From the dust of battle rise,
To make our dear Sri Lanka
A real paradise

May harvests be abundant
In surroundings free from fear
May prosperity for one and all
Increase from year to year
Let?s hold this dream before us
A dream for me and you
If we play our part with head and heart
We can make this dream come true. Sheila Goonewardene