WALT WHITMAN SAID

 

                WALT WHITMAN SAID

            Walt Whitman was an American poet and essayist. He was born at West Hills, New York on 31 May 1819 and died on March 26, 1892 in Camden, New Jersey.     

              His book Leaves of Grass, a collection of various  poems on several topics, was published in 1855.  A good deal unprecedented in style at the time of its publication, it is now considered a landmark in American literature.

 

            Whitman compares leaves of grass to letters dropped by God. A poem on the road is a vast place filled with innumerable  things and actions. In a long poem about himself he tells the readers that he is as much a poet of the body as of the soul. .

 

            One of the most famous poems in the book  is about animals in which he says:

           

            “I think I could turn and live with animals, they are 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.

 

            The British philosopher and logician (1872-1970) found in these lines an unparallel secret of happiness.

 

            The Indian mystic and philosopher Acharya Rajneesh (1931-1990). popularly known as Osho observed after reading these lines: If you look at the animals it is natural to be tempted by their silence, by their acceptance, by the peace that surrounds their being, by the non-tense, non-neurotic state of their minds. It’s very natural to be tempted by the animals.

 

            He further says: It seems man has fallen. It seems there has not been an evolution, man has not progressed ---just the contrary. For three hundred years the scientists have been telling man that there has been a great evolution and the evolution has happened in man, man has come far above the animals.     

 

            However, concluding his ideas on evolution, Osho says only the high can fall: if you are not high, where are you going to fall. The animals cannot fall ---there is nowhere to fall to.

                                                            ********

G.R.Kanwal

18 November 2025.

 

 

LET ME SAY

 

                LET ME SAY

                I am not a saint, a seer, a sage, an angel, or a messenger of God.

            To be true, I am an ordinary human being who has wandered here and there and seen life in its countless forms. I did not see anything as a student but as an observer, and yet it left on me its impression that made me a somewhat  knowledgeable.

            I think real knowledge which reveals the secrets of life is not packed in books that are taught in schools, colleges and universities. Let me say it is far better to be a wanderer, an observer, and a thinker to learn what this world with all its contents is lying around  to teach us what is worthwhile.   

            Given below are some facts of life which you may read  to accept or reject according to your own experiences.

1.     Each loss has its compensation. There is healing for every pain. But the bird with a broken pinion never soars so high again.

2.     The more ideas a man has the fewer words he takes to express them. Wise men do not talk to kill time, they talk to save it.

3.     A danger foreseen is half avoided.

4.     People generally quarrel because they cannot argue.

5.     Experience is a perfect teacher.

6.     A great idea can be expanded into a long book.

7.     All cruelty springs from weakness.

8.     Noble men do not believe in violence.

9.     Some time a handful of dust may be more useful than a handful of gold.

10.                         A laugh is just like music for making living sweet.   

11.                        Everything like a twig, a piece of stone, a poisonous animal, a book of knowledge, a conch from a river, a fallen star, etc., is not eatable.

12.                         Life without love is like an empty vessel.

13.                        Silence is also a form of meaningful speech.

14.                        Don’t lose your natural innocence till the last moment of your life.

15.                        Poetry is far better than prose.

                                                            *******

G.R.Kanwal

17 November 2025

WORDS WITH DEEP MEANINGS

          

 

                             WORDS WITH DEEP MEANINGS

          The most important thing to learn is that the same word may have different meanings in different contexts.

 

            Dictionaries define “word “ as a single unit of language which means something and can be spoken or written.

           

            Some body rightly said:   

            A careless word may kindle strife.

            A cruel word may wreck a life.

            A bitter word may hate instill;

            A brutal word may smite and kill,

            A gracious word may smooth the way;

            A joyous word may light the day.

            A timely word may lessen stress;

            A loving word may heal and bless.

 

            Another piece of great advice is:  Never fear big, long words. Big, long words name little things. All big things have little names such as life and death, peace and war, or dawn, day, night, hope, love, home.

 

            Always try to use little words in a big way. It is hard to do, but they say what you mean. When you don’t know what they mean, use big words.

 

            Note that there is a great difference between the right word and one that is similar but all wrong. For instance, you can call a woman a kitten, but not a cat; a mouse, but not a rat; a chicken, but not a hen; a duck, but not a goose; a vision, but not a sight.    

                       

            According to the  French journalist Emile De Girardin (1802-1881) the power of words is immense. A well-chosen word has often sufficed to stop a flying army, to change defeat into victory, and to save an empire.

 

            Finally, this is what the American writer and humorist  Mark Twain (1835-1910) said: The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter ---‘tis the difference between the lightning-bug and the lightning”.  

                                                                        *******

G.R.Kanwal

16 November 2025.

 

 

 

 

 

LORD BYRON’S POEM ON SOLITUDE

 

LORD BYRON’S POEM ON SOLITUDE     

            Literally solitude means the state of being alone. Some of its synonymous are ---loneliness, isolation, seclusion, privacy and retirement.

 

            Solitude can be both pleasant and unpleasant. Almost all human beings want companionship which has several advantages. A lonely person feels  neglected, helpless,  unsafe, unsociable, void of  companionable and relationshipl qualities.

 

            However, all companionship, fellowship, socializing and camaraderie are not agreeable, enjoyable, pleasing or attractive. Many people like to be far from the presence of even friends and relatives, colleagues and team mates.

           

            Far from the madding crowd is a popular phrase used by those who yearn for mental, emotional and spiritual solitude.

 

            According to an interpretation, Lord Byron’s poem on solitude, explores the idea that one can feel more alone in a crowd than in nature. The poem contrasts the contentment found in nature with the isolation and disconnection experienced among people.

           

            Here is an appropriate extract from  the poem:

 

          To sit on rocks, to muse o'er flood and fell, To slowly trace the forest's shady scene, Where things that own not man's dominion dwell,

 

          And mortal foot hath ne'er or rarely been; To climb the trackless mountain all unseen, With the wild flock that never needs a fold; Alone o'er steeps and foaming falls to lean; This is not solitude,

 

          'tis but to hold Converse with Nature's charms, and view her stores unrolled. But midst the crowd, the hurry, the shock of men,

 

          To hear, to see, to feel and to possess, And roam alone, the world's tired denizen, With none who bless us, none whom we can bless;

 

          Minions of splendour shrinking from distress! None that, with kindred consciousness endued, if we were not, would seem to smile the less of all the flattered, followed, sought and sued. This is to be alone; this, this is solitude!

 

                                                            ********

G.R.Kanwal

15 November 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

THUS SPAKE JAWAHARLAL NEHRU

 

          THUS SPAKE JAWAHARLAL NEHRU

            Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (14 Nov 1889-27 May 1964) was the first prime minister of Independent India. According to an overview he was an Indian anti-colonial secular humanist, social democrat, acclaimed writer, historian, lawyer and statesman . He was indeedwho was a central figure in India during the 20^th century.

            Pt. Nehru is known as a key architect of modern India. He promoted industrialization, scientific progress, and non-aligned foreign policy. He was highly broad-minded. liberal, anti-war and apostle of peaceful solutions of international conflicts. His concept of Panchsheel consists of five principles,  namely: mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. Mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful co-existence. These principles also laid the foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement and got incorporated into the UN resolution on peaceful coexistence.

              Pt. Nehru is the author of several books most popular among them being: An Autobiography, The Discovery of India and The Glimpses of World History.

            Finally, two short extracts from his thoughts on India’s secularism: (1). “We talk about a secular state in India ….Some people think that it means  something opposed to religion. That obviously is not correct. What it means is that it is a state which honours all faiths equally and gives them equal opportunities; that, as a state, it does not allow itself to be attached to one faith or religion, which then becomes the state religion.’’

            (2).Our constitution lays down that we are a secular state, but it must be admitted that this is not wholly reflected in our living and thinking…We have not only to live up to the ideals proclaimed in our constitution, but make them a part of our thinking and living and thus build up a really integrated nation.

               To conclude, It is also worth mentioning that Pt. Nehru’s birthday (November 14) is celebrated as Children’s Day.

                                                *********

G.R.Kanwal

14 November 2025.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

SUCCESS: AN ANONYMOUS POEM

 

                                SUCCESS: AN ANONYMOUS POEM

          Oxford dictionary defines success as “the fact that you have achieved something that you want and have been trying to do or get:  for example the fact of becoming rich or famous or of getting a high social position.

          Some synonyms of success are: achievement, accomplishment, attainment, fulfillment, victory, triumph, favourable or positive result,

          Success demands right effort, right means, right time, right intention, right struggle, right place, requisite patience, proper discipline and adequate consistence.

          The struggle for success does not end in zero achievement. The title of a poem written by an English poet Arthur Hugh Clough (819-1861) is: “Say Not the Struggle Naught Availeth.”  He says that no struggle remains fruitless; however  its result may not be immediately apparent.

          Given below is a bit different anonymous poem on “What Is Success? ”       

Success is speaking words of praise

In cheering other people’s ways.

In doing just the best you can

With every task and every plan.

 

It’s silence when your speech would hurt,

Politeness when your neighbor’s curt.

It’s deafness when the scandal flows,

And sympathy with others’ woes.

 

It’s loyalty when duty calls;

It’s courage when disaster fails,

It’s patience when the hours are long;

It’s found in laughter and in song.

 

It’s in the silent time of prayer.

In happiness and in despair.

In all of life and nothing less,

We find the thing we call success.

                                                ********

G.R.Kanwal

13 November 2025.

                                               

LITTLE THINGS---AN ANONYMOUS POEM

 

 

                             LITTLE THINGS---AN ANONYMOUS POEM  

           

Little things are not unimportant. They are indispensible where they are needed. They cannot be replaced by big things because they will be misfits. A tree cannot become a substitute for a flower; and an elephant cannot serve the purpose of a goat.       

 

                        THE LITTLE THINGS

 

If any little word of mine

May make a life the brighter,

If any little song of mine

May make a heart the lighter,

God help me speak the little word

And take my bit of singing,

And drop it in some lonely vale

To set the echoes ringing.

 

If any little love of mine

May make a life the sweeter,

If any little care of mine

May make a friend’s the fleeter

If any little lift may ease

The burden of another,

God give me love, and care, and strength

To help my toiling brother.

 

            In his poem The Noble Nature, the English poet-playwright  Ben Jonson (1572-1637) says: In small proportions we just beauties see, and in short measures life may perfect be.

                                                *******

G.R.Kanwal

12 November 2025