Verse

Women’s Day – 2018

/ Sayee Challapally / Leave a comment

To all the women I’ve been blessed to know – my late mother, wife, daughter, aunts, cousins, teachers, colleagues, artistes, family and friends – Happy Women’s Day to all of you – and here is my sincere attempt at Verse, for all of you!

Women’s Day – 2018

****

Some women are celebrated everywhere,

And are part of history and folklore!

But I think it is the everyday women in our lives,

Who ought to be celebrated more and more!

 

Women leaders, achievers and winners,

Please do celebrate all of them for sure!

But don’t forget to celebrate the women,

Who make our lives so pristine and pure!

 

Mental fortitude, quiet determination,

We learn a lot of that from you women!

Resilience, courage and conviction,

And a lot more, that we really owe to you women!

 

So many women are true role models,

Whom we should always respect and admire!

As they juggle multiple roles with ease and aplomb,

And yet, never fail to smile and inspire!

 

As you endeavor to make this world a better place,

Wishing a very Happy Women’s Day to all of you!

And my gratitude and respect is not just for today,

But will always be there, for all of you!

****

My simple prayer for the world in 2018

/ Sayee Challapally / 4 Comments

DSebbTFVAAEK-Ky.jpg-large

 

Dear God, please bless and enable all of us to:

Discuss and debate, rather than fight and argue.

Build each other up, rather than tear each other down.

Find solutions for problems, rather than more obstacles.

Have the sense of responsibility to check for facts.

Be discerning enough to differentiate between fact and opinion.

Stop the spread of misinformation, both mischievous and malicious.

Seek truth and clarity amidst all the information overload.

Fight against divisive rhetoric and hate speech, regardless of where it comes from.

Ensure civility, peace and harmony, even when we disagree…especially, when we disagree.

Understand that notoriety is not fame or greatness.

Spread intelligence, rather than ignorance.

Share love and respect, rather than bile and hatred.

Work together to defeat darkness, and bring in the light.

 

Love and Optimism

/ Sayee Challapally / 8 Comments

I think that life will always be better, if we care enough to preserve and nurture moderation and balance in all things, and in that light, I just felt like writing this sincere verse:

There may be racists in America,

But America is not racist.

There may be Terrorism from Religion,

But Religion is not Terrorism.

There may be the unscrupulous Rich,

But all the Rich are not unscrupulous.

There may be crime amidst the Poor,

But all the Poor are not criminals.

There may be bad folks, in every race, 

But the race in its entirety, is not bad.

There may be stereotypes in general,

But in general, let us not stereotype.

There may be terrible things in Life,

But Life in itself, is not terrible. 

Let us learn to see the whole,

And not just blindly pigeonhole.

The world is full of hatred and pessimism,

Let us together build love and optimism.

Chennai Rains 2015

/ Sayee Challapally / Leave a comment

Chennai – my former home – was battered by the worst rains in 100 years last December, and I wrote these few lines, in (attempted) verse.

Chennai Rains – 2015
***************************************
Catastrophic Chennai rains,
Submerging roads and lanes,
Drowning buses and trains,
Causing agonizing pains.

Natural calamity or human absurdity,
It is very heartening to see,
Solidarity during Adversity,
And Unity in Diversity.

Roads turned into rivers and lakes,
Boats replaced cars and bikes,
Victims stuck and stranded,
Isolated and marooned.

In precarious positions,
Prompting rescue missions,
Under miserable conditions,
And Dangerous situations.

Helplessness and frustration,
Requiring help and coordination,
Fostering human cooperation,
With a spirit of compassion.

People rising above
Class, caste and religion,
Strangers working together,
To selflessly help each other!

Sad stories and
Suffering prevail,
Alongside happy,
And inspiring tales.

As the waters recede,
And normalcy restores,
The Floods reveal, how
Chennai‘s spirit soars!!

The Sun will shine,
Flowers will bloom,
Chennai will rebuild,
And Life will resume.

*********************************

Poem for Women’s Day

/ Sayee Challapally / Leave a comment

Here is a humble and sincere verse that I wrote on March 8th for Women’s Day, dedicated to all the wonderful women that I have been blessed to know, across family and friends, over the years:

****************************

Thank you, for the kindness and patience,
And for all the composure and tolerance.

Thank you, for hearing and listening,
And for the non-judgmental understanding.

Thank you, for the support and brilliance,
And for all the strength and resilience.

Thank you, for the tenderness and sharing,
And for all the warmth and pampering.

Thank you, for the spirit and cheer,
And for being so precious and dear.

Thank you, for the dedication and affection,
And for all the joy and inspiration.

Thank you, for all the help, love & care,
And finally, for always being there.

***************************

IPL – Verse

/ Sayee Challapally / 1 Comment

Obviously this is not serious verse , but here is something I scribbled for fun, with IPL Cricketers in mind:

====

Your bats are bigger, and the grounds are smaller,
Overs are fewer, and yet, runs are more.

Lousy bowling and lusty hits
Have turned splendid plays, into silly skits.

Where is the depth, calibre, the nuances,
And the grandeur, that made this a great sport?

A regal game is now a sponsored circus
With all and sundry making a big ruckus.

But why should you care, when in the end,
Work is less, and Pay is more !!??

======