POETRY

A Rare Gem

You were one in a million,
A rare gem on earth.
Pure, serene, cool and calm,
Your genuine ways, gave you charm.

Ever helpful, always caring,
Kindness made your heart so light.
In the sky of the faith you were,
A star that shone most pure and bright.

Never have you ever hurt,
A feeling of another's heart.
Simple charming full of grace,
Super human were your ways.

A mother to me you were,
Since the day I lost my mother.
A pillar of strength you were to me,
When we had to work together.

But, a heart of gold stopped beating,
On that very fateful day.
Leaving another heart weeping,
As she has no words to say.
So you've left this world.
Never to return,
Leaving a void never to be filled,
This earth lost a precious gem
The day I lost you.

They say time heals all sorrow,
And help us to forget,
But time so far has only proved.
How much I miss you yet.

- Indra Siriwardhana (In memory of Indrani Pieris)

Mind Unshaken

Train your mind to follow the path
Fill it with LOVING KINDNESS
To all beings in all spheres.
Thus clearing your path to heavenly bliss.

Shower COMPASSION on all beings,
Regardless of all differences.
Free your mind of all defilements,
Be blissfully aware of the serenity of the mind

Spread ALTRUISTIC JOY lavishly,
Enjoy in the success of others,
Friend or foe, King or pauper,
No difference there is, for this to hamper.

Ups and downs in life,
There is no strife.
Keep your mind unshaken,
To reach your goal.

EQUANIMITY in any situation,
Gain or loss, joy or sorrow,
Fame or ill fame, praise or blame,
To the mind unshaken, they are all the same.

Conquering your mind this way,
Is no easy task anyway,
You are at the first stream.
Shortening your SAMSARICK journey
to lives seven more.

Srimathie Piyadasa

The beach in heat

Sun worshippers from distant shores
escaping the rigours of snow and sleet
throng to our sunny, palm-fringed beaches.

They come in all shapes and sizes.
Their skimpy bikinis and thongs
show off cleavages fore and aft.
Belly buttons stare like Cyclops eyes
from flat and well-toned abs.
Pale sun-starved skins
the colour of white un-baked bread
turn slowly to a golden tan.
Eyes hiding behind dark glasses
search surreptitiously for prospective prey.
Nut-brown beach boys scurry about
catering to clients seeking sexual escapades.

At dusk the sun-worshippers return
to their well-appointed boutique hotels
leaving the empty beaches
to a cool tranquil night.

- Chitra Premaratne-Stuiver