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POETRY
Sing to your glory
Sri Sumangala a name so dear
To all Sumangalians young and old
You have spread your glory for eighty five years
Your fame will be written in letters of gold.
You were born as a prestigious private school
A haven for the kids of Panadura
You blossomed out to be outstanding
In academics and sports.
The Principals and teachers were dedicated
They gave their best they gave their time
They taught us good manners and high moral values
They taught us the difference between right and wrong
And to accept a win or a loss with a smile.
We excelled in studies and sports alike
We could sing and dance to any rhythm and rhyme
We honoured our culture and upheld our traditions
We learnt to face challenges and take life with a stride.
Over the years you have nurtured thousands of young girls
They are all doing well all over the world
The happy years we spent in your kingdom
Are never to be forgotten, but cherished as memories that last forever.
When Sumangalians meet, we talk of the good old days with pride
The concerts, drill displays and exhibitions flash back to our minds
The teachers their effort and guidance never to be forgotten
We salute them with reverence and gratitude untold.
Great changes in the education system have come with time
Now Sri Sumangala is a National school with dignity and pride
All of us old and young past and present
Sing to your glory and three hearty cheers.
SOMA SILVA (nee Ratnayake)
You crushed my soul to pieces
Tears are falling
But you never came to stay
Even tough I still hope for your return
You never came to stay
And I wonder if it was revenge
That you took
Jealous eyes I always met
Friends were so rare
A helping hand was so hard to find
No one ever cared to give compassion away
My mentor you never became
Are you still my friend?
I still wonder every day
Now I pack my bags to leave
Away from this maddening crowd
And the place that we met
Cruel people I know I will always meet
Who will destroy lives and walk away in peace
Sinners they have become
In search of success and piles of gold
Which no one can carry in to their Grave
BERTHOLAMEUZE NISANSALA DHARMASENA
Cry of a cat
Human beings call me a beast
As I am a cat
A female one at that
The hardships I have to undergo
Daily to exist
Numerous and endless
I don't know my father
Though I knew my mother
But she died when I was young
I am all alone
I have no brothers or sisters
I do not know any uncles or aunts
Or any relations
To whom I can go
In times of any sickness or trouble
I have to look after myself
Even doing the time of confinement
Without a soul coming to my help
Even to give a sip of water
Human beings who claim to be
The noblest of all beings
Don't care about me
They chase me out
Saying I would litter
Though they like to have me
To keep the rats and insects away
From their kitchens
ARUL
My serendib
The ship of 'Serendib', proud and elegant,
Was sailing calm and quiet, like a bride.
The tranquil waters of the Indian Ocean
Lulled her with the mild breeze.
The flag above the sails graced her beauty
Glimmering in the backdrop of the horizon.
No doubt, she was Poseidon's sure envy.
Then, in a sudden twist of events,
Queer darkness shrouded her all around;
Uncertainty and death haunted 'Serendib'.
Alas! helpless, she remained anchored
Tossed up by the violent waves.
The mighty ocean was all at war
Aided by the lashing 'West Winds'.
The able captain with the crew,
Faced with an undaunted challenge:
To keep 'Serendib' on even keels
And steer her away from the calamity,
The jaws of snarling death and destruction.
With patience, courage and determination,
Thus beat he down the angry 'Poseidon'.
Victorious, there she sails, my 'Serendib', quite majestic!
The flag fluttering proud high up the mast,
Heading for East: 'the land of sun shine'.
Behold! the proud captain standing on the deck;
Strong determination written on face, Bless him!
My Serendib, sailing away into the horizon,
Amidst the cheering, 'Long live Serendib!'
SAJENDRA KUMARA
On a stilt bar
I sat on a stilt crossbar
In a chena so far
With a friend afar
Silent, listening, vigilant for
Animals, when sun was setting down
Mongoose appeared slowly
Through the hedges and grass
Boar a wild like a rock
Small cross the chena fence
Porcupines creeping slowly smoothly
Rabbits with all their innocence
Appeared one by one
Crashing sounds by branches
Signalled the big ones coming
I looked sharp, saw the
Jumbos, three in a row
Entered the chena
Heard some gun shots
And hooting too, that's chena life
D.M.P.B. DISSANAYAKE
The error
My life is now beginning,
To fall apart,
With the dim hope dying,
While I feel overwhelmed,
Under the crushing humiliation,
Of my gigantic error.....
A long cherished secret love,
The deepest desire,
The loveliest hope,
Now being the futile labours of perseverance,
Pours pain into my pure heart
Burning in the flame of shame....
'How did all this happen?
Why did I love her?'
To myself I silently repeat,
The questions,
Never to be answered!
JAYASHANTHA JAYAWARDHANA
The geography poem
How tall are the rocky mountains?
How long is the river Amazon?
Where is the Panama Canal?
Or is there something called the Labrador Peninsula?
Where are tropical rainforests situated?
Where does wheat and paddy grow?
Are there any cattle farms in Australia?
Or is the world round or flat?
Do any of you know?
If yes, give yourself a clap on the back
If not, just look them up in a map,
For this is all the fun in Geography!
NILLASI LIYANAGE
Life
We are on
A pilgrimage
This journey
Of 'life',
Will soon,
End.
If we do good,
We'll be blessed,
With Bliss.
If we do bad,
We'll leave,
A pock-mark,
Upon life's sweet
Path.
When the best
Of friends,
Must part
C. MOHANLAL DE MEL |
