A HYMN OF TRUST

 

A HYMN OF TRUST

Hymns are songs of praise to God and are used in religious services, There are also collections of hymns in the form of books used by devotees in their homes by those who have a firm faith in God’s help through thick and thin.

            “A Hymn of Trust” is written by Oliver Wendell Holmes (1841—1935). He was an American jurist from 1902 to 1932. He also wrote poetry, preferably devotional. He is known as fireside poet together with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and James Russell Lowell. The hymn which is given below expresses everlasting  faith in God’s help in all adverse  circumstances.  God , says the poet, never lets down His children.  He changes pain into pleasure and fear into fearlessness: :.

                        (1)“We smile at pain while thou art near.”

                        (2)“No path we shun, no darkness dread,

                        Our hearts still whispering, thou art near.”        

                         

                        (3) “Content to suffer while we know,

                        Living and dying , thou art near.”

 

The full text of the hymn reads  as follows:

 

“O love divine, that stooped to share

Our sharpest pang, our bitterest tear!

On thee we cast each earth-born care;

We smile at pain while thou art there.

 

Though long the weary way we tread,

And sorrow crown each lingering year  ,

No path we shun , no darkness dread,

Our hearts still whispering, thou art near.

 

When drooping pleasure turns to grief,’

And trembling faith is changed to fear,

The murmuring wind, the quivering leaf,

Shall softly tell us, thou art near.

 

On thee we rest our burdening woe,

O love divine, for ever dear!

Content to suffer while we know,

Living and dying, thou art near.”

 

                                                *********

G.R.Kanwal

31 October 2023

 

 

 

 

 

A SONG OF LIFE

 

A SONG OF LIFE

American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807—1882) wrote a world famous poem known as A Psalm of Life. It is an inspirational poem, quite useful for young students, and has occupied significant space in poetry books.

            The poem consists of nine stanzas, each having four lines. The language is simple, yet powerful.  Each stanza has a positive, stimulating message.  The first one reads las follows:

Tell me not in mournful numbers ,/Life is but an empty dream!/For the soul is dead that slumbers,/And things are not what they seem.

In the very next stanza the Longfellow  dissolves this illusion and says:

Life is real Life is earnest! /And the grave is not its goal!/Dust thou art, to dust returnest,/was not spoken of the soul.

The poem has been based on the literal and figurative meaning of the word soul, such as: an immortal human being ; the animating force ; the inspirer or the moving spirit of some activity, plan, movement, adventure; or the essence of some thing, etc.   

In the remaining stanzas, the poet inspires the readers to be heroic;  trust in God;  have belief in the present time, put no trust in future;  remain busy all the time.

The essence of the poem lies in the following  two stanzas:

Lives of great men all remind us/We can make our lives sublime,/And, departing leave behind us/Footprints on the sands of time,

Footprints, that perhaps another,/Sailing , o’er life’s solemn main,/A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,/Seeing shall take heart again.

                                                ********

G.R.Kanwal

30^th October 2023

 

LEIGH HUNT’S FAMOUS POEM

 

LEIGH HUNT’S FAMOUS POEM

The British poet, essayist, critic and journalist Leigh Hunt (1784-1859) had his full name as James Henry Leigh Hunt. But he was popularly known as Leigh Hunt. He co-founded a leading intellectual journal The Examiner which expounded radical principles in politics and literature. He was a prolific writer. One of his special qualifications was that he knew Italian which his fellow writers Charles Lamb and William Hazlitt did not know.

            With what we are concerned here is one of his most famous poems ABOU BEN ADHEM.  It is about an Arab Muslim saint and Sufi Mystic Ibrahim son of Adhem (?AD777). The poem written by Leigh Hunt has the characteristic of a fable. One night an angel appears in Abou’s room, writing in a book of gold the names of those who love the Lord but when he reappears the next day Abou’s name is  not there in the list. He is surprised and suggests to the angel to write him as one “that loves his fellow men.” The angel writes as requested  and comes again the next night with the names of those whom love of God had blessed, “And, lo ! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest!”

            The moral of the poem is that it is more important to be with human beings in their weal and woe than to worship God as a ritual. Those who love God’s creation are better than those who love God Himself. Love of God is abstract, just theoretical ; love of humanity is concrete and practical. That is the real and the best love.

                                                            *********

G. R. Kanwal

29^th October 2023   

 

TO CELIA

 

                TO  CELIA

“To Celia” is a love poem by English playwright, poet and actor Ben Jonson (1572-1637). The poem which is given below is better known as “Drink to me only with thine eyes”.   

“Drink to me only with thine eyes,

And I will pledge with mine;                   

Or leave a kiss but in the cup,

And I’ll not look for wine.

The thirst that from the soul does rise

Doth ask a drink divine;

But might I of Jove’s nectar sup,

I would not change for thine.

 

I sent thee late a rosy wreath,

Not so much honoring thee

As giving it a hope that there

It could not wither’d be;

But thou thereon didst only breathe

And sent’st it back to me;

Since when it grows, and smells, I swear,

Not of itself, but thee!

           

It is one of the best monologues on love. The language is very simple, sweet and lyrical. The love of the poet is not physical.  It is “The thirst that from the soul does rise” and “Doth ask a drink divine.“ However, he would not accept Jupiter’s nectar in exchange of the wine of his beloved’s eyes. According to a critic the poem’s speaker tells his beloved that her love is sweeter, more intoxicating, and more life-giving than even the nectar of the gods.

                                                ******

G.R.Kanwal

28^th October 2023

RELIGION

 

 RELIGION

Religion is defined as belief in the existence of a supernatural ruling power, the creator and controller of the universe, who has given to man a spiritual nature which continues to exist after the death of the body. It is also defined as one of the various systems of faith and worship based on such belief. Some of the  religions of the world are Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism and Taoism.

Religion is faith in God and love for Him.  It is to do what He has commanded us to do through the teachings of His prophets. Religion means to practise good and avoid evil. A man of religion is also a man of Truth.

Here is a quotation by an American theologian Edwards Tryon (1809-94). He says : Religion in its purity, is not so much a pursuit as a temper; or rather it is a temper, leading to the pursuit of all that is high and holy. Its foundation is faith; its action, works; its temper holiness; its obedience to God in improvement of self and benevolence to men.”

Another thinker whose name I have forgotten ays ‘’take away God and religion, and men live to no purpose, without proposing any worthy and considerable end of life to themselves.”

                                                ********

G. R. Kanwal

27^th October 2023

 

 

 

FORGIVENESS

 

 

                                                FORGIVENESS

The popular saying is that to err is human, to forgive, divine; which means forgiveness  is a divine quality.  But we find this quality in many kind-hearted persons.  Religions advise their followers to acquire this quality. Forgiveness is  to forget the hurt caused to you. The word has some synonyms like pardon, acquittal, amnesty, exoneration, mercy, absence of malice and grudge. Some of the antonyms of forgiveness are : retaliation, punishment, revenge. animosity, ill-will, hatred,malice and bitterness.

One of the best quotes on forgiveness is: Pardon, not wrath, is God’s best attribute.

Forgiveness is a blessing for its practitioner.  It keeps him free from detrimental anger, which is harmful for his heart, mind and soul. Moreover, it relieves both the wrong-doer and the one  who has been wronged.

Given below is a famous poem on forgiveness.  It is by the American poet James Russell Lowell (1819-1891). The title of the poem is Yussouf. It reads:

A stranger came one night to Yussouf’s tent,

Saying, “Behold one outcast and in dread,

Against whose life the bow of power is bent,

Who flies, and hath not where to lay his head;

I come to thee for shelter and for food,

To Yussouf called through all our tribes “The Good.”

 

“This tent is mine,” said Yussouf, “but no more

Than it is God’s; come in. and be at peace;

Freely shalt thou partake of all my store

As I of his who buildeth over these

Our tents his glorious roof of night and day,

And at whose door none ever yet heard Nay”

 

So, Yussouf entertained his guest that night,

And, waking him ere day said:”Here is gold,

My swiftest horse is saddled for thy flight.

Depart before the prying day grow bold.’

As one lamp lights another, nor grows less,

So nobleness enkindleth nobleness.

 

That inward light the stranger’s face made grand

Which shines,  from all self-conquest, kneeling low,

He bowed his forehead upon Yussouf’s hand,

Sobbing: “ O Sheik, I cannot leave thee so;

I will repay thee; all thou hast done

Unto that Ibrahim who slew thy son.”

 

“Take thrice the gold, ‘said Yussouf, “for with thee

Into the desert, never to return,

My one black thought shall ride away from me;

First-born, for whom by day and night I yearn,

Balanced and just are all of God’s decrees ;

Thou art avenged, my first-born, sleep in peace !”

 

                                                ******

G. R. Kanwal

24 October 2023

THE WIND

 

                THE  WIND

“The Wind” is a short poem written by the English poet Christina Georgina Rossetti.  It reads as follows:

            Who has seen the wind?

            Neither I nor you.

            But when the leaves hang trembling,

            The wind is passing through.

 

            Who has seen the wind?

            Neither you nor I

            But when the trees bow down their heads,

            The wind is passing by.

Rossetti was born on 5 December 1830 and died on 29 December 1894. She was an inspired genius; with  a romantic nature and devotional temperament; lived a secluded life; and devoted herself to religious activities and charitable works. She also wrote some poems for children in a very simple language as is evident  from the poem given above.

 

“The Wind” is a simple but significant  poem. It tells the reader that even in nature there are both mighty and weak forces.  The wind is a powerful invisible force. The leaves and trees are comparatively weak entities.    When the wind strikes them they cannot protect themselves; the leaves start trembling and the trees bow down their heads. Symbolically, this is also true about every department of life.  The mightiers rule over the less mighty; and this happens both visibly and invisibly. 

 

The wind is a symbol of invisible powerful  force.     

 

                                                            ********

 

G. R. Kanwal

21 October 2023

I HOLD A BANNER

 

          I HOLD A BANNER

I hold a banner which has valuable  words like  goodness beauty and truth; love and loyalty, liberty and sovereignty; peace and non-violence; neighbourhood and co-operation; caring and sharing; sympathy and empathy; compassion and forbearance; mercy and forgiveness ; kindness and charity; justice and fairness; freedom and uprightness; respect and faithfulness; honesty and integrity; ; industry and patience; diversity and tolerance; humility, grace and dignity; humanism and enlightenment; godliness and piety.     

 This banner remains with me wherever I go. It attracts everybody’s attention.  Some react and say it will promote “peaceful co-existence.“

                                                *******

G.R.Kanwal

19^th October 2023          

 

A BAG OF TOOLS

 

A BAG OF TOOLS

Isn’t it strange

The princes and kings,

And clowns that caper

In sawdust rings,

And common people

Like you and me

Are builders for eternity?

 

Each is given a bag of tools,

A shapeless mass,

A book of rules;

And each must make----

Ere life is flown----

A stumbling block

Or a stepping stone.

 

            The writer of this poem is the American poet R.L.Sharpe (1870s—1950s}. He tells the readers that there are all sorts of people in the world. You have kings and  clowns, princes and common people. All these people are born to make something. This is the universal and eternal law of the world.  Each one of us is given a bag of tools and a book of rules. It depends on us what we make --a stumbling block or a stepping stone, that is what keeps us back or what leads us on. However, each one of us irrespective of his rank has to make something before he depart from this world.  

 

                                                            *********

G. R. Kanwal

18^th October 2023                                                                                                                                                                                                            

SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT WAR

 

SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT  WAR

Personally speaking I hate war. For me it is an ugly word. Its consequences are horrible for all the parties.  Wars in olden days were not so destructive as today because of then less dangerous weapons.

Somebody has rightly said “I know not with what weapons world War III will be fought , but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. This is true. The nuclear weapons likely to be used in the third world war will create this astonishing situation.

Here are some popular quotations about war:

(1) War is the business of barbarians.

(2) War is a mad game the world so loves to play.

(3) A great war leaves the country with three armies --- an army of cripples, an army of mourners, and an army of thieves,

(4) War is an instrument entirely inefficient toward redressing wrong; and multiplies,  instead of indemnifying losses.

(5) Even toy soldiers should be abolished. We must disarm the nursery!

                                                *******

G.R.Kanwal

14^th October 2023

 

     

 

 

ON HIS BLINDNESS

 

                                                ON  HIS BLINDNESS

When I consider how my light is spent

Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,

And that one talent , which is death to hide,

Lodged with me useless, though  my soul more bent

To serve therewith my Maker, and present

My true account, lest He, returning chide;

‘‘Doth God exact day labour, to present

My true account, light denied?”

I fondly ask; but Patience, to prevent

That murmur, soon replies, “God doth not need

Either man’s work, or His own gifts; who best

Bear His mild yoke, They serve Him best.

His state

Is kingly. Thousands at His bidding speed.

And post o’er land and ocean without rest;

They also serve who only stand and wait

            This is one of the most famous sonnets (14-line poem} In English literature. The poet John Milton (1608—1674) who was ambitious of writing an epic” Paradise Lost” to justify the ways of God to man and had the ability to fulfil this ambition  lost his eyesight before half of his age. He regarded it a big obstacle. Writing of poetry was the only talent  with which he could serve God. Now God would scold him when he goes back to Him without utilizing this talent. However he finds an solution to this problem. The first is that he should have Patience to overcome his disability. This helps. He does succeed in writing the intended epic . Besides this, ,  he realises that  God does not  punish those persons who become disabled and fail to do the work assigned to them . God is not short of workers.  He has countless people to serve Him. What God actually wants is man’s genuine willingness to obey Him. Practical performance is not the issue. 

 

Milton ends his sonnet with the famous quotation :” They also serve Him who stand and wait.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                            *******

G.R.Kanwal

12^th October 2023

     

 

 

SMALL THINGS

 

SMALL THINGS

A sense of an earnest will

To help the lowly living

And a terrible heart-thrill,

If you have no power of giving,

An arm of aid to the weak

A friendly hand to the friendless ;

Kind words, so short to speak,

But whose echo is endless;

The world is wide,---these things are small,

They may be nothing----but they may be all.

 

            This short poem with a big idea is by an English poet Baron Richard Monckton Milnes Houghton(1809—1885). He was both a poet and a politician. His forte was social justice , a fight for the underprivileged. According to him ‘an arm of aid to the weak, a friendly hand to the friendless and kind words to the depressed are not small things.’ They are small for the givers but big for the receivers. They give hope and courage to those who need them.  For the givers these small things may be nothing but for those who need them at a particular time , they may be not merely  big but all.

                                                            *******

G. R. Kanwal

11^th October 2023

THE RAINY DAY

 

                THE RAINY DAY

‘‘THE RAINY DAY” is an inspirational poem by the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807—1882). He was the most popular poet in the 19^th century , known for such poems as THE RAINY DAY,  A PSALM OF LIFE, THE ARROW AND THE SONG and THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. These are individual  poems. His  major works are THE SONG OF HIAWATHA and PAUL REVERE’S RIDE.

            The message of “The Rainy Day” is that life is not a continuation of sunny and cheerful days. It has also occasional rainy days which are “cold, dark and dreary’’. Those who regard this phenomenon as a lasting one are mistaken because even on a rainy day “Behind the clouds is the sun still shining.” The poet says that it is God’s universal scheme that “Into each life some rain must fall, /Some days must be dark and dreary,” As these days are exceptional, not general  , people, especially the youth,  must not form a pessimistic view of life.  

               The  full text of the poem reads as follows:

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;

It rains, and the wind is never weary;

The vine still clings to the moldering wall,

But at every gust the dead leaves fall,

And the day is dark and dreary.

 

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;

It rains, and the wind is never weary;

My thoughts still cling to the moldering past,

But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,

And the days are dark and dreary.

 

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;

Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;

The fate is the common fate of all,

Into each life some rain must fall,

Some days must be dark and dreary.

 

                                    ********

G.R.Kanwal

10^th October 2023

LOOK UP

 

          LOOK  UP

‘‘LOOK UP” is one of the shortest poems by the American statesman, author and orator Edward Everett Hale (1822-1909). He is best known for his writings such as “The Man” and two best quotes : (1) I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. (2) Coming together is a beginning Keeping together is progress; working together is success.

                        “Look Up” is a four-line inspirational poem. It reads like this:

                        Look up and not down.

                        Look forward and not back.

                        Look out and not in.

                        Lend a hand.

Each line inspires the reader to be better than what he is.  He should be optimistic, not pessimistic; progressive, not regressive; extrovert, not introvert and a helper to others whenever and wherever necessary.

                                                *******

G.R.Kanwal

9^th October 2023

THREE FAMOUS QUOTES FROM PLATO

 

          THREE FAMOUS QUOTES FROM PLATO

Plato was a Greek philosopher born in Athens in the classical  period corresponding to most of the 5^th and 4^th century B.C. The last Athenian period is calculated  as 510 B.C to the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C.

            He founded an Academy of philosophy, wrote many philosophical texts, one of the most famous being ‘The Republic’.

            The three famous quotes from him are:

1.     All men are by nature equal, made all of the same earth by one workman.

2.     Books give a soul to the Universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.

3.     The measure of a man is what he does with power. The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future in life.

G.R.Kanwal

8^th October 2023

 

   

AT NIGHTFALL

 

          AT NIGHTFALL

 I need so much the quiet of your love

After the day’s loud strife

I need your calm all other things above

After the stress of life.

 

I crave the haven that in your dear heart lies,

After all toil is done;

I need the starshine of your heavenly eyes,

After the day’s great sun.

 

            This very short  poem which makes the difference between the strife of the day and the rest of the night is by the American poet Charles Hanson Towne (1877—1949).  The poet tells his beloved how when he is away from her his day is spent in stressful labour of the day and he waits for the nightfall when there will be her stress-bursting  heavenly eyes.  He will have rest instead of toil and calmness in place of turbulent activities of the day. The night is thus presented as a time of relaxation, and of union with his lover in whose heart he sees a heaven  for himself. This change from day to night is his physical and mental need. The day is a stress breeder without the presence of his lover and the night is stress-buster with her presence.  

 

                                                **********

G. R. Kanwal

7^th October 2023      

LIVING WITH ANIMALS

 

 

                                                LIVING WITH ANIMALS

This is not the full title of the poem of the American poet Walt Whitman (1819—1892). The title of his poem is I Think I Could Turn And Live With Animals.  This poem occurs in his book “Leaves of Grass”. It is on the basis of this book that he has been called the poet of democracy. Grass being a symbol of minor individuals and leaves of grass of minor poems. Here the readers find ‘celebration of individuality in relation to society and nature’.

            In his poem which is given below Whitman prefers the company of animals to those of human beings. Animals have no artificiality . They live a natural life.  They have no idea of sin and repentance.  They have no artificial manners and false behaviour. They live a simple and uncomplicated life, so they are happy, while human beings lead an unhappy life because of their unrealistic adopted ways and manners. Whitman appreciates the simple natural  life style of animals and says:

            I think I could turn and live with animals, they’re so placid and self-contained.

I stand and look at them long and long.

           

            They do not sweat and whine about their condition,

            They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,

            They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God.

            Not one is dissatisfied , not one is demented with mania of owning things,

            Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago,

            Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.

 

So they show their relations to me and I accept them,

They bring me tokens of myself, they evince them plainly in

their possession.

 

I wonder where they get those tokens

Did I pass that way huge times ago and negligently drop them?

 

                                    *********

G.R.Kanwal

6^th October 2023

 

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AFTER LOVE

 

                                AFTER LOVE

‘AFTER LOVE’ is a short poem by the British poet and critic Arthur Symons (1865-1945). He was a symbolist and a believer in extravagant passion. In ‘After Love’ he talks about the sweet days of his love and the painful days of its termination. He tells his lady love that during the period of love their meetings were sweet, now when love is over, he cannot agree to meet her as a friend.  Becoming a friend from a lover is unacceptable stooping. “It is too hard, too hard to meet/If we must love no more.” The end of love should mean the end of all sorts of future meetings.  

            What follows is the complete poem:-

OH, TO PART now, and, parting now,

Never to meet again;

To have done forever, I and thou,

With joy, and so with pain.

 

It is too hard to meet

If we must love no more;

Those other meetings, were too sweet

That went before.

 

 And I would have, now love is over,

An end to all, an end;

I cannot, having been your lover,

Stoop to become your friend !

                                              ********

G.R.Kanwal

5^th October 2023

THE CONSTANT LOVER

 

          THE CONSTANT LOVER

“The Constant Lover” is a poem by the English poet Sir John Suckling (1609-1642). A staunch royalist, he was very rich, brilliant, witty, spendthrift and libertine. His love poems are full of fun and frivolity. ‘The Constant Lover’ is slightly different. It tells us that you cannot win the heart of a lady by becoming pale-faced or by becoming morose and silent.   There is no pity for lovers due to these  postures.  Love cannot be created by such devices.  Love is natural. If a lady will not herself be inclined to love , nothing can move her so.  

            Here is the text of the poem:-

Why so pale and wan, fond lover?

Prithee, why so pale?

Will, when looking well can”t move her,

Looking ill prevail?

Prithee, why so pale?

 

Why so dull and mute, young sinner?

Prithee, why so mute?

Will, when speaking well can’t win her,

Saying nothing do’t ?

Prithee, why so mute?

 

Quit, quit, for shame! This will not move,

This cannot take her;

If of herself she will not love,

Nothing can make her;

The Devil take her !

                                                            ******

G.R.Kanwal

4^th October 2023