Rain of Petals
Prabhakar Duvvuri
Compiled and presented by Venkata I. Nemani
VHRS Media, (Bowker listed Office) Voluntary Health Research Services 6222, Waldo Drive, New Orleans LA- 70122
Mail Box No. 786, Junction International 815, W. Lincoln Highway, De Kalb, IL 60115.
‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
© Copyright Venkateswara Prabhakar Duvvuri Copy right Venkateswara Prabhakar Duvvuri. All rights reserved. Any attempt made to reproduce or utilize the material in part or in full in print or in electronic or tape or audio/visual or mechanical including photocopying or by any other information storage and retrieval method without explicit written permission from the author who is the sole proprietor and intellectual property owner of the work, is prone to the punitive acts of the US and international copyright and Criminal Laws.
ISBN: 0967271428
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Dedication: To my Dear Parents Who are no more. - Prabhakar Duvvuri
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Disclaimer: All characters and incidents are fictitious, and any resemblance is purely incidental. Author proprietor and Publisher are not liable for any inconvenience with reference to thoughts. Reader discretion advised.
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Contents Foreword
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On Regard to Parents Prerequisite..........................................................................13 Mother..................................................................................14 Human Form.........................................................................15 Of Beauty and Love Teenage...............................................................................19 I Love…............................................................................... 20 Cost of Love.........................................................................21 Power of Music.....................................................................22 Her First Experience.............................................................23 Youth................................................................................... 24 Lost in Love......................................................................... 25 To me…............................................................................... 27 Marriage – the Sacred Event................................................. 28 Of Success and Self-help Couplets.............................................................................. 31 Dreams and Desires............................................................. 34 Time and Fate...................................................................... 35 Olympic Episode..................................................................36 Imprint..................................................................................37 Success...............................................................................38 Hopes and Desires...............................................................39 Hope that guides.................................................................. 40 Un-Ending Desires................................................................41 Lines on your palm............................................................... 42 Wrong Step..........................................................................43
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Destiny.................................................................................44 Get Going.............................................................................45 Stage Fear............................................................................46 Anger, the inner enemy Couplets...............................................................................49 Slave of Emotions.................................................................52 Health caution, ailments and suffering On Smoking and Choking......................................................55 Treat me on par (on HIV +ve victims)..................................... 56 My visit to the Cancer Hospital...............................................57 Only Choice (on Mercy Killing)...............................................58 Of Nature, human nature and pollution Price of Progress..................................................................61 Hypocrisy.............................................................................63 Double Edged Tongue..........................................................64 Changing Moods.................................................................. 65 Couplets: Worldly Wisdom (warnings)....................................66 Of Life and Living Life.......................................................................................75 What for this Birth.................................................................. 76 Death................................................................................... 78 At last...................................................................................79 Facts of Life..........................................................................80 Truth remains........................................................................81 My Companion..................................................................... 82 6
Life is a Play.........................................................................83
Role of Tears........................................................................85 Orphan’s Cry.........................................................................86 Tell me not........................................................................... 87 Unfortunate Class..................................................................88 Money..................................................................................89 Only to Compromise.............................................................90 Cart Puller.............................................................................92 Those happy days................................................................93 Let’s go to Zoo..................................................................... 95 Traveling Salesman.............................................................. 99 On God and Religion My Prayer...........................................................................103 To invoke God....................................................................105 Inner Feelings.....................................................................106 Believing is Seeing.............................................................107 His Will...............................................................................108 Sentiments......................................................................... 109 Religion.............................................................................. 111 Tremors of Terror 12th March 1993, “Serial Blasts in Bombay”.....................................................115 Silence and Violence.......................................................... 117 Of Patriotism and Leadership “Mandela”, the soul of South Africa....................................... 121 True Leader........................................................................ 122 George Bush II — A Crusader.............................................. 123 Welcome to India (Bharath)..................................................124 7
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Foreword I was pleasantly taken aback when asked to write a foreword for this poetic anthology. Though randomly written over a period of time, reading each poem independently in itself is a touching experience. Here they are sorted under ten different heads based on the subject. Some of the verses are as old as 28 years but still got their freshness and charm intact. The simple language used is appealing to English readers of all age groups and style of flow makes the verses effortlessly memorable. In these days of stressful busy-ness and ‘gasping-for-time’ living, it is highly refreshing and stress relieving to read, assimilate and enjoy these thought provoking poems and couplets. It is very fortunate for us to have a contemporary poet with vintage touch without having the doping influence of tech-styles and modernity. Only selflessness and pure empathy for others and their plights could beget such emotional thoughts; it seemed words rushed forward and arrayed by themselves to proudly represent the thoughts of Prabhakar Duvvuri. I invite you to relish the ‘Rain of Petals,’ a spectrum of colorful thoughts on life and living. Of late majority of modern Poetry has become more ‘prosaic’ and lost its charm to fiction and other entertaining genres, thus being left with just a narrow categorized segment of readers. I am sure this book of poems and couplets would win back the place, charm and readership that poetry once enjoyed in English literature.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
The effort would not have seen light but for the moral support I received during my research and compilation days from our sincere well wishers including: Dr. B. Chandrakanth, MD oral-maxillofacial surgeon Lisa Kritikos, Antique Consultant, New Orleans, LA Prof. Syd Harrex, Flinders Univ., Adelaide, Australia.
Venkata Indeevar Nemani SAP Knowledge Management Consultant
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On Regard to Parents
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On Regard to Parents
Prerequisite Your efforts all To win and succeed, The knowledge gained Through books you read; Medals and laurels And all the fame, Desire to dominate And imprint your name; Great they are Yet, none to bother, Unless you adore your MOTHER AND FATHER.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Mother* The only sound I like it more Is not the simple beat of drum, That is mild but are many in store It is the heart beat of my MOM. The only voice I like it more Is not the voice of melody queen, That is mild like of sea at shore, It is the voice of my MOM. When I heard my sweet name From the lips of my dear chum, Like the Call of Mother it came Yet the same but not of my MOM. Stepping slowly with her beat of heart Walks my beat though it’s my own, To my beats she gave the start So she says you are my own.
*This poem has bagged Duvvuri the North American Open Poetry Winner in 1993.
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On Regard to Parents
Human Form Human body Carries a special charm It’s shape is lively And lovely too. Creatively it is Infant’s form Which always loves To rest in every arm. Father, mother All the kith and kin Shower a bunch of kisses It’s really a blissful joy No one in life misses.
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Of Beauty and Love
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Of Beauty and Love
Teenage It’ s teenage The age Of casuals and jeans. Where every look And even the smile Ignites and sets the world ablaze. Come on! Sing with me Swing with me To create some more craze And set the fashion In a different phase.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
I Love… Above the waist Bellow the breast All that you have left Has acted like the floor That is smooth and wet To make me slip at its best. In those funny days of mini Exposing thighs Like carelessly thrown money To make me Immoral and corrupt. Like a hunter’s bait. Today in bridal gown With utmost beauty and grace Nothing you have left But that pretty face Ensuring from me the respect.
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Of Beauty and Love
Cost of Love Love is shylock Always it demands, Sacrifice, In the form of interest. Still, love is divine So it commands, And snatches from you The peace and rest. All we love To fulfill the desire, To obey the urge, The heart’s personal affair. Yet, to love a girl At least for a few, Is to play with the fire, Scars to keep, In the form of a memoir.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Power of Music In this wonder land Of aspirations and pleasures Sins and sorrows Traps and fears All we crave For fun and fantasy. To attain a peace of mind A soothing touch Of different kind We search every place For mind to relax. At last we embrace music For peace and solace. The power of music Is the prime mover To pull us out From rut that makes us sick.
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Of Beauty and Love
Her First Experience He wore a white shirt She wore a green skirt He asked her to sit on the chair And he went to drop the curtain pair. She innocently said, ‘It’s first time for me Will it really hurt me?’ ‘No, no it’s a simple process Have belief on my easy process.’ Finally he convinced her And started his action on her. ‘It’s paining me quite a lot’ – said she ‘It must be quite inside.’ – said he. ‘Don’t worry, just open wider and let me insert still inner’ She said, ‘It’s enough, please pull out.’ ‘No, Still I am trying please be quiet.’ Finally, he pulled out slowly Asked her ‘Is it paining still badly?’ ‘No, it’s fine, sorry, I behaved silly.’ Read it again Understand clearly You will find ‘he’ is dentist really ‘She’ his patient if you observe carefully. 23
‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Youth The prime of youth Like the morning dew Makes one feel above all. But a man at the fag end Says ‘youth’ is nothing but A simple passing phase, a view. Like a bubble of water It remains only for a while And certainly not permanent at all. As the shining Sun ascends The soothing dew On tender leaves moves apart. So, Youth is like the dew And when age ascends The same fades away leaving memories behind.
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Of Beauty and Love
Lost in Love If your love Was in favor of me I would have been yours If like another Beloved I could be I would have been yours. Soon or late my heart Had to be broken You have enacted your part And it’s my fate. Ever under gloomy clouds Lonely I dwelt Think of me Tell me my heart who felt Pains that life gave me None really knew Like the dust of feet Away you blew. My heart I bent in your worships Your looks and beauty Were sung by my lips 25
‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
You are in my heart In my mind Never I kept you apart Nor I left your thoughts behind. Today none there is To love or think of me Two words of praise Who would ink of me. Let me not live Like a forgotten stranger in crowd In love with me Who can say it loud. All I lost In your charm and love May be this is the cost And reason for me to depart.
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Of Beauty and Love
To me… Like those pretty stars Round the moon And like pearls Fathoms below the sea To me you are The Nature’s boon Though for all You are only ‘She’. On my way Of thoughts and hopes As for the Summer The favorable May For me you are a boon A gift of peace.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Marriage – the Sacred Event New hopes to raise Healthy feelings to impart, It s not enough only to be wise Without lovely feelings at heart. For this, to man and woman Together to live, from age to age God has sent, a gift from heaven Wrapped with love naming it marriage. Let she be your part of life May be you are near or far Life she is, not merely a wife A Celestial gift, a shining star. Good and bad are to be there As life is a story of smiles and tears These are the truths you be aware And God bless you a life without fears.
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Of Success and Self-help
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Of Success and Self-help
If you have the will A little better to do The ability and the skill Sure, they follow you.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Self respect is An essential aspect To grow and win. Too much to expect Under its pretext Is ego, a sin.
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Of Success and Self-help
I know Problems are Many. But, Routes to run, Escape and avoid Are narrow dead ends. Better, face them.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Dreams and Desires Dreams and Desires Are like Buds and Flowers, Living behind Stretched barbed wires. To possess And to hold them, Be not afraid Of bruises, A few scratches And lots of pains.
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Of Success and Self-help
Time and Fate We run With the time It’s a fun All the time. Life is a race Of ups and downs And we innocently face Like circus clowns. Time and tide Wait for none A rule to abide For every one. Time unfolds Dues to fate Mysteries it holds Even if you hate We regret After every mistake Yet, we let Blunders to overtake.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Olympic Episode On the participation of Indian players and athletes in Olympics 2000
Participation is fun so we went In full strength, in every event May be no medals in our net So what? After all our game is cricket. Forget about Sydney, Athens is there again Now, we can learn how to train Even there if efforts go in vain Olympics will be there, we try again.
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Of Success and Self-help
Imprint Bigger you grow Larger the shadow You leave a lasting imprint. The moment you bow And keep yourself low The same Earth rejects your shadow.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Success The urge to stand above all With a will to reach the stars, He who is not worried of a fall And bold enough to ignore scars; He who perceives victory in failure And gets inspired with hurdles ahead, One who is ever optimistic and sure With a vision to see good in bad; Success for him is smiles away Reaching the goal ahead of time, Let this tribe be forever, we pray To guide the society all the time.
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Of Success and Self-help
Hopes and Desires Still is my life, Yet, I am on move, It is, The charm of hope, Bringing me back To groove. This life, Of ups and downs, Packed with desires Leaves me alone Many a time Amidst grievances. Hopes and desires, I feel, Are like buds and flowers Smiling and inviting, Living behind Barbed wires.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Hope that guides Tiny hearts with beats Is that pretty boat At shore it starts To reach the shore. It’s hope that guides And makes it float But only to sink In midway heading the shore. Like the waves That rise and fall With chance we rise Only to fall. Yet, with hopes We act like wise With desires aplenty To play, run and fall.
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Of Success and Self-help
Un-Ending Desires I love to possess all Which are not mine. I forget every time, My birth was bare And naked to the core. My wants, And undeserving desires, Make me mad, Arousing flames, Amidst burnt morals. Comparing all through At every stage Believing all to be true Like the man in the desert Chasing the mirage. Today I possess Only a little of peace And more of sorrow Counting on the past To face the unbearable tomorrow.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Lines on your palm Sharp and blunt Embossed lines, Joining here And parting there. Depicting profit Loss and fines, Your life’s share Every where, Lines they are As they appear, Full of curves, And a few bends. Never they knew Wear and tear, Living with you Knowing no ends. Lines, cursive writing Of the Lord, In the language He knows best, Making the palm Your identity card, Valid in North, South East or West. 42
Of Success and Self-help
Wrong Step A step taken wrongly Ruined my bright future, Mingling into dust My chosen career even. Longed for fame But became an unknown creature, Curse of hell I got Not the bliss of heaven. My heart of ambitions Burnt to ashes in fire, Yet, I breath in hopes And without fears, If past to be sold to buy At my reach and desire, Over days gone Why would I shed tears?
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Destiny Success, failures, All ills and cures; Miseries, mysteries All pleasures and worries; Attitudes, aptitudes All happenings and moods; Intelligence, eminence All anger and tolerance; Education, vocation All status and reputations; Pains, gains All efforts and strains; Strengths, lapses All knowledge and awareness; Hatred, love All blessings of god above; Existence, departure All factors of nature; Patterns of life they are Nearer to truth not far; Beginning with the birth Everything is ordained by God; It is destiny, the script of fate Even if you hate. 44
Of Success and Self-help
Get Going Is not life a vast battle ground Horrors beating round and round Between the lines of joy and sorrow Am I not really a hero? Who is he if not a timid At ups and downs when not rigid Being a rider afraid of a fall Why to live and ride at all?
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Stage Fear I just went On to the stage To speak extempore On fashion and craze. When I saw audience In front of the stage I shivered and felt As if I am in lion’s cage. I forgot that topic To speak on stage Started searching my pockets For prompter slip, a page. The audience started laughing Some of them started clapping Sweat of my body Started flowing like river water. Then, I started praying in myself The Earth’s creator To provide me the strength to speak Like a great orator.
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Anger, the inner enemy
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Anger, the inner enemy
Your Anger Is your enemy within Your Patience Is your reason to win.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Anger Knows no direction Nor has a clear vision To separate the good And ignore the bad. But, makes your life Miserable and sad.
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Anger, the inner enemy
Decisions bother You Only when They are born Out of Anger and Emotions.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Slave of Emotions A slave of emotions The man Follows the commands of mind Defying frustrations And absorbing All notions Leaving the logic Way behind. He is expected To act Knowing pros and cons But, keeping the conscious Far from Sight and away Follows the bait, The greed, The enemy of mankind. The man Surrenders to temptations Keeping aside senses Far from reach To commit brutal acts Glorifying inhuman fervor. Only the stones Perhaps lack the feelings Notions and emotions Neither they have Wants nor demands Nor even Loyalties to switch. 52
Health caution, ailments and suffering
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Health Caution, ailments and suffering
Smoke — Heart Stroke — Apart May be they are Rhyming words for poetry But, for smokers Words of caution they are In terms of reality.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Treat me on par For HIV +ve victims May be I am A victim of fate Yet, I am not An object to hate. Able I am Like any human form Be not afraid of me I am not to harm. Please go not Away from my sight I am Positive, so what? Yet, I reserve social right. I want not Your attitude to shirk All I seek from you An amity at work. All I need Is your care and love For the rest I pray The unseen God above.
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Health Caution, ailments and suffering
My visit to the Cancer Hospital My heart of feelings Weeps for those Suffering souls, Human beings, From death Lying so close. Their cries of pain Fear filled eyes Dried up lips And feeble voice Whisper In my ears, All their prayers That went in vain, Leaving behind Suffering and pain.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Only Choice Mercy-less killing The sight Of sick and suffering, And their pathetic plight, While the fate hanging Between the dots, Of death and breath, Reveal only facts in lots Beyond the truth and beneath. Their wish to be With their kith and kin Underlines feelings, to see Their pain remain within. Their tired voice And vacant looks Accept ‘death’ as only choice Abusing God and holy books. Mercy they seek from all Not in the form of consoling word. But, from acts, agony to stall, To get away from this world.
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Of Nature, Human Nature and Pollution
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Of Nature, human nature and Pollution
Price of Progress Pollution an offspring of development. Nature’s agony Born out of constant attacks By us, human beings Expresses her helplessness And awakens the hidden brute Only to warn All the lives around. But, stubborn we are Like heavy rocks, Never try to learn. In the name of progress We stop the natural course of rivers Robbing the rights of the native land Calling them dam(n)s. We burn forests To construct mansions And drill through the plates of Earth Only to extract oil that is crude. Conveniently we justify Testing of nuclear bombs on seabed. Forget not every act of ours Inflicts injuries on the face of Mother Earth.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
The anger of the injured Knows no direction Neither has the vision Nor control over action. So is the wounded nature Ever ready to defy With might and fury Only to make this world An unholy place The mass of calamities.
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Of Nature, human nature and Pollution
Hypocrisy We shout and we defy, Only to snub the authority; We urge and we cry, Under the shade of morality. We love only the rule, That serves our interest; We praise even a fool, That if suits us best. Wrong as right we admit, Out of our own fears, All we lie for benefit, Changing versions like gears. We love only that criticism, That which keeps ego intact; We always pat on him He who reciprocates more in fact.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Double Edged Tongue Success when meets us On life’s twisted way Pride starts ruling us And makes us say Credit to my skill and talent. Failure when attacks us After a day, next day, Depression starts ruling us And forces us say “Luck is bad” why lament? Pretty little tongue of ours Has edges two One that conceals And the other reveals Making us happy every moment.
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Of Nature, human nature and Pollution
Changing Moods My Joyous mood Ever since Childhood Escorting like a dear To goals far and near. But bouts of Sorrow Like tides high and low Dips me in fear Rendering my life unclear.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Couplets: Worldly Wisdom (warnings)
Get not caught in stranger’s winsome charm, With an open talk and revealing face, Often they are jackals in human form, Just to fool you leaving no trace.
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Of Nature, human nature and Pollution
Get not impatient to reveal your mind, Leaving nothing for your mind to rule; Often they all act from your behind, Only to make you a subject of ridicule.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Go not to every fellow for advice, With helpless looks and chocked voice; Often they are only fools in disguise, Only to add misery leaving no choice.
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Of Nature, human nature and Pollution
Get not involved in all other’s conflicts, With an aim to provide answers to all; Often they are like traps and pits, Only to make you slip and fall.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Get not submerged in tears of all, All may be not of deep sorrow; Often they are shallow and deceptive a call, Only to meet ends that are narrow.
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Of Nature, human nature and Pollution
Go not closer to be too friendly, Submitting your will to attire and smile; Often they are of counterfeit glee, Only to warm you for a while.
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Of Life and Living
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Of Life and Living.
Life Birth provides The right to live Love and care To go up and slide. It’s life that makes you Win and lose Laugh and weep And snatch all that is due Down the tricky passage Of success and failures There is a luck for lucky For the rest it’s a mirage. Living is a struggle Noisy dreams to reap Rustic ego to spill And to invite all the trouble. Yet, we love to live For ever, if possible, Treating everything as our own Ready to take but not to give.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
What for this Birth A few of us Blessed with riches, And all the rest Bound to lie broken At different stages of life. Born we are To lead a suppressed life, With eyes full of agony, The life that is Without adequate money. To-day means something for us, Not merely, a day of troubles, It is he who knows What is in store for tomorrow, Because today goes Only to bring in some sorrow. True may be our actions And errors of Judgment, Are forcing us To pay the fine.
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Of Life and Living.
Reasons may be many Behind our failures, In reaching the goals Of power, that is money. To be a human May be a blessing, And the ultimate result Of good acts of past, But, tell me my God, If my past were to be bad What for this birth again, Oh’ Lord?
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Death Death the irreversible Reserves the right To cast its shadow Equally on sick and able. The deadly word alone Shakes the roots of confidence Making every one shiver And drop like a stone. The body so dear Nurtured with care Pampered all along Refuses the burden to bear. One may be brave To conquer all, everything Victorious all the while But, death pulls him to grave.
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Of Life and Living.
At last Our wisdom Religious teachings and all We set aside All through the life Only to possess Imaginary pleasures And that too for a while At last To leave this world, All alone.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Facts of Life Without the knowledge Of greed Acts of sin Cannot breed. Without the knowledge Of seed One cannot see Even weed. Without the knowledge Of rotor There cannot be A motor. Without the knowledge Of need Can you commit A wrong deed? Why then You Blame corruption Forgetting that it’s Your own creation.
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Of Life and Living.
Truth remains A half clad man With probing eyes Deeply immersed In search of food At a street corner Around a waste bin Depriving the rights Of street dogs On a winter night Shivering in sweeping winds Became a subject Of a lens man On his usual rounds For the world to see The height of poverty In larger than life Bigger photo print. Awards follow the photographer With suffixes and prefixes Of unheard titles. But, the object of lens Is still there Every day and night In search of food Around the waste bins.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
My Companion The negative thought, Born to doubts Between the dots Of fear and failures of past.
All irritative they are, Making the life Restless beast. It is there in me today, And was there Even yesterday. All I remember, The only friend Following like shadow To live, to grow And to die with me tomorrow.
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Of Life and Living.
Life is a Play Burning desires, Divided opinions, Blatant lies, Unpardonable sins. False cries, Momentary emotions, False praise, Wrong notions. All they are back-drops And Life that is a play. Powerful ministers, Unethical doctors, Inviting spinsters, Immoral writers. Ruthless killers, Day-light robbers, Habitual liars, Shameless forgers. All are characters And Life that is a play.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Self-less lives, Helping hands, Dutiful wives, Obedient lads. Respected teachers, Sincere workers, Truthful preachers, Honest politicians. Changing scenes all they are And Life that is a play.
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Of Life and Living.
Role of Tears Game it is Of all the living eyes, To shed tears For both fun and fears. Fact it is As East is for Sun’s rise, And bound we are For this burden to bear. Dull becomes the face With tears of sorrow, Yet, tears of joy Make you Smart and speechless. Nature it is But, not to buy Or even to borrow. With the call of death, Away you may be From fun And fear. Still those tears Follow you Through the eyes Of your dear. 85
‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Orphan’s Cry I want not your charity Nor a few words of pity, All I want is your love Rest I seek, from God above. All through my little age Waited for somebody, a Sage, To say where in this city One gets the feel of humanity. Years have vanished in waiting Leaving my belief still doubting, All along I think of human touch At least a little, if not much. Sparks of my burning desire Setting my emotions on fire, O’ God ! this torture is enough Please be kind, not rough. People seek your magic touch In temple, Mosque and Church, O’ Lord ! why this human race When humanity is so scarce.
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Of Life and Living.
Tell me not Tell me not That old old story, Of love, beauty and glory, All they are For kid’s delight Sleep when goes Away at night. Tell me not Of that past culture, The blend of life, All they are For memory’s delight Yesterdays to search In today’s light. Tell me not Fashion’s would be state, The bliss of designers, All they are Endless changing trends Today it is sexy Who knows where it ends.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Unfortunate Class Not rich I am, Everything to buy, Neither poor I am, To escape away from shy. I lack the courage, To stretch my arms, Keeping aside my image, Shamelessly to seek alms. My wants and needs Knowing not my place, In this society of greeds, Often lost in disgrace. All through my living Longed only for status, The false imaginary thing, Gathered nothing but debts.
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Of Life and Living.
Money Money, Only when is adequate Makes you stand Firm, even on sand. A little more or less Makes you slide Towards dishonesty. Money, Only when you have in plenty So does the world have it But the moment you are broke The same world hasn’t any.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Only to Compromise On Bombay local trains and other woes of the great Indian middle class.
Like sardines, In crowded local, Standing on toes, In a posture; Uncomfortable and unusual, As if the body is not mine, But of foe’s. This is not the event, Of a day, Or only today, But, born I am, To face the torture everyday, Life as if nothing else To promise, And born I am, Only to compromise. Escalating prices Of essentials and needs Amidst scarcities, As if the Earth, Swallowed all the seeds. Yet living in mirth, Born I am Only to compromise. 90
Of Life and Living.
Stuffy single room, In between open drains, And garbage heaps, That is my living palace As if on this Earth, I don’t deserve any grace.
Only thing I knew From my birth, Born I am Only to compromise.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Cart Puller Human I am, In the shape of poorman, And nothing but to carry burden Alive I am. Through the streets Starting from dawn, I pull the cart As if a bull I am. Burden beats me To death everyday Still, hopping against hope Alive I am. Till the last breath Destined only to suffer And I live in the shed As if a bull I am.
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Of Life and Living.
Those happy days Tiny tots Were my friends then In sleep And in dreams. My looks Were all words then With innocence Bursting at seams. Those blissful Days of lovely charm Willfully to smile and stare, My gestures Too were heartily warm Under the watchful Eyes of care. The same Today is changed one Replacing the lullaby With song. Life today Is craving for fun With problems Chasing all along.
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Of Life and Living.
Let’s go to Zoo Slice of Life, a play: Mama, Daddy Kids: Chintu, Pintu, Raju, Simmy
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
All kids: Mama, Mama, Oh! My Mama Let all we go to see the zoo Chintu, Pintu, Raju and Simmy Hurry up, Hurry up We all go to zoo.
Hurrah! Hurrah! I will go, I will go To see the monkey and it’s mischief And see it jumping high and low To make it take my Green Kerchief.
Mama! Zebras all big and small With blacky, blacky stripes and all For them to play I give my ball To see them playing, sitting on wall.
Pintu! Chintu! I too will go Elephants I see with tuskers like bow I ask the elephants to come and go With eyes closed sit in a row.
Raju! Raju! Take me there With Lion I play sitting there Balloon I give for it to play And the game I watch with gay.
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Of Life and Living.
With a lengthy honk came one car And making noise stopped at the gate Chintu then said, “Yes, its Dad’s Car.” And all the children dashed to gate. Daddy with his angry voice Yelled at them, “Why this noise?” Then he said with tired looks “Go to table with your books” Mom then came with smiling face And hands busy on needles and lace Daddy then said with mild voice “What for they made all that noise?” Chintu said then, “Mama, Mama! Why you talk with angry daddy?” Then the comment came from Simmy “Why you smile at naughty daddy?” Daddy then called Chintu, Simmy With smiling face said “Sorry, Sorry” I too love you like your mom As you love that Circus Story. When they heard the ‘Circus’ name Again the thought of Zoo that came, Then said Simmy, “Daddy! Mama! To Zoo we go say yes, Mama.”
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Daddy said then, “Okay! Okay! Yes, We will go to Zoo Chintu, Pintu, said, “Thank you, Thank you! Hurrah, Hurrah, going to Zoo.”
Some one knocked the plywood door Raju ran to see who was there He then quickly opened the door And saw uncle and aunt standing there.
Mom and Daddy said, “Welcome, Welcome” And all they went to drawing hall Raju said with feeble voice “Better, forget zoo and play with toys.” Pintu said then with full of pain “Aunt and Uncle are like that rain That which came on last Saturday Only to spoil zoo plans of that day.” Chintu said then, “We go next Saturday.” Raju said, “No, next week Sunday” Pintu murmured, “Forget about Saturday I hate it because it’s a dirty day.
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Of Life and Living.
Traveling Salesman Like a homeless vagabond From place to place I move on Through Time and Space. None can imagine my efforts And the tensions I embrace From morning till evening Virtually hell I face. The borrowed mask of smile Adorns my face All through the day Adding to looks a little grace. Yet, a slight error of mine Leaves not even a trace, Only to sweep me out of job, With much disgrace.
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On God and Religion
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On God and Religion
My Prayer Birth, the first stage Of every living form, The beginning of age To see many years of charm. Birth begins with crying May be that is the expression The child has, in saying Today it’s my only possession. He is dependent In spite of having Legs and limbs Knowing not to be independent. Dumb he is Despite having Voice and lips Knowing not to be at ease. Fails to understand In spite of having Ears and brains Knowing not the language of the land. Oh God, show me not The last stage Of my ending life A step before the death. 103
‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Make me not dumb In spite of possessing Lips and tongue And keep me guessing. Give me not dependence In spite of having Limbs, legs and toes Snatching away my independence.
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On God and Religion
To invoke God His prayers all, Loud and clear, Failed to wake up All the thousand Gods, From their deep slumber. May be they thought It’s another usual call, Of an empty stomach From the land Of secular slogans. The only way Now, left for him, Is to seek Ministers’ blessings, In the form Of letter of favors and recommendations, To appease the GODS Speak and hear.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Inner Feelings Not once, But hundred times I realized, While passing through Unabated yokes, Totally harsh some times, God is partial And it is true. The moods Of Joy and Sorrow, Invaded me Leaving shocks at times, But, the hope Of better tomorrow Kept me cool All the times. My occasional look At other human beings, Facing the same More at times, Changed my mind And inner feelings, GOD is impartial All the times.
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On God and Religion
Believing is Seeing Seeing is believing. True, not all the times, The God and His form Never we saw, Yet, we believe All the times. We search with probing eyes All the things in and around. But, to seek the God, We close the eyes To see Him and His form. It is belief, That opens the mind, Blocking the vision, Many a time. So, why not we also say, “Believing is seeing�.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
His Will Like those guns silent and still, In the hands of enemy who fell; Like that spindle movementless and still, On the screen in the painted bell; Like statue of monk standing still, Posing as if has something to tell; Like that frog lively but still, In the dried up well; Like that crop dead and still, During those days of dry spell; Like those decorated stones standing still, Over those silent souls in heaven and hell; All these are Reminders of God’s will, And nothing is possible Against His will.
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On God and Religion
Sentiments Wisdom goes grazing Sentiments when start crying At the top of the voice Knowing no other choice. Thoughts go wild and brutal Controlling senses all cruel And lets off demons and tigers Spreading all along fears. The elementary norms of civility And the love for humanity Under the shadow of religion Disappear abruptly from the vision. Realities and morals leave behind As if humans have no mind To separate the good from bad And to wipe out all that is sad. You need not be an atheist To insult and beat the holy priest Often beliefs in excess are bad And turn even the wise into mad. He who loves only to hate Religion for him became tool of late Hatred makes him bold and cynical Making the lives ill and critical. 109
‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
The needs and cravings of modern times Cannot be found in heinous crimes All they are in human society Of love, anxiety and little pity. Missile attacks, blasts and riots All they are but unholy traits Asking all to pay heavy fines Dividing the world on ethnic lines. Great are all scriptures and preachings So are religions and their teachings But, remember only then they are When love remains nearer not far.
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On God and Religion
Religion Religion lives Neither in mosque Nor in temple. But, lives In our task And in people. Religion lives Neither in strife Nor in pacts. But, lives In human life And holy acts.
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Tremors of Terror
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Tremors of Terror
12th March 1993. “Serial Blasts in Bombay� Written on March 12th 1994 In this month an year ago, On the twelfth day as today; The morning Sun full of glow, Rose only to disappear abruptly half way. Self styled tigers and demons, Let loose by the unseen hand; With bombs and blasting devices, In their scooters, cars and vans. Blasts here, there and everywhere, With blinding smoke and emetic fumes; City as if it is facing the war, With bodies dead amidst dooms. The only remains of that fateful day, The ash, too, changed its color; To bloody dangerous ugly red, With the flow of human blood.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Hovering around every inch of space, Caws of crows broke the silence; Expressing the love for human race, Knowing not the reasons behind violence.
Dead are gone with structures that fell, Caving the hopes and sorrows fathoms deep; But, the scars openly reveal and tell, “Religion” is not for making others to weep.
This is a pen picture painted by the poet on the said day when he, a resident of Bombay, happened to be in the vicinity of one of the sites of the blasts. He survived, for us to read this poem.
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Tremors of Terror
Silence and Violence Silence, The friend of thinkers Enemy of many At moments critical Makes the life typical. Violence, It’s evergreen opponent Ranking first on it’s list Makes every wrist Bloody and courageous. Often, It’s that extreme silence Produces violence And violence at last Breeds silence often. Born in grave The silence Returns to it’s place at last Friend of terrorists The violence Leads them To the silent grave.
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Of Patriotism and Leadership
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Of Patriotism and Leadership.
“Mandela”, the soul of South Africa Heart of your ambitions Shedding tears within For the native land, Nation Burdened with racial sin. Twenty seven lifeless years Spent between the walls of cell Ever balancing on hopes and fears Remembering all to riots who fell. The Sun, heard your prayers today To fill the nation with glow Fragrance of freedom in every ray Sowed the seeds, a tree to grow. Struggling through non-violent norms Facing the arms only with words Standing like the rock amidst storms Wicked around fleeing like cowards. Gandhi you are, apostle of peace The soul of South Africa, incarnation, Philosophically you are the Aristotle of Greece “Love for all” is your sole contention. Freedom is here, the ultimate desire Born out of struggle and sorrow Let your rule be impartial and fair The same today, the same tomorrow. Written when the poet was in Kano, Nigeria. 121
‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
True Leader An upright man Time tested and true Rare specimen of human clan With the strength who grew Bothers not of hardships Nor is afraid of men in power. He is ever smiling and hearty With a vision of a soldier A prisoner of his conscience Disciple of his version A man above all and apart.
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Of Patriotism and Leadership.
George Bush II — A Crusader He alone wins Who dreams of better tomorrow And always thinks Dedication is essential to grow. He alone leads Who ignores threats and pressures And always reads Messages in between the lines. He alone survives Who thinks of bigger challenges And always strives To bring in better changes. These are words Of love, regard and appreciation For moving forwards Ideally with spirit of innovation.
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‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
Welcome to India (Bharath) If there is heritage of any worth On this planet, in this world It is here in our beloved Bharath The cultural origin of this world. The soul of this ancient country We carry in our tiny hearts Treating her as huge banyan tree We enjoy humanity in all parts. The words of learned sages Left their impressions on temple walls Message of love, passing through ages Remained with us in our prayer calls. The snow covered Himalayan beauty And flowing holy rivers all across Teach relentlessly the theme of Integrity Bestowing all, the touch of class. Religion is our way of living Greeting all with a hearty smile God we see only in giving Helping the helpless all the while. Vedas we have as guiding light Paving the way leading to heaven It’s Godly message for human delight Realizing the Self every now and then. 124
About Duvvuri: Born on 02-28-1949, in Visakhapatnam, India. Did his schooling in Railway Boys’ High School, Kharagpur. Graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Govt. Polytechnic, Visakhapatnam. Served in various technical firms as Sales and Service Engineer. Later joined the Bombay division Mather and Platt Ltd., Manchester, UK, and served as a Senior Engineer, Specialist in Final Finishing of fabric, for about 12 years. Now a consultant for the textile industry for erection, commissioning and maintenance of Calendar machines under the aegis of Calendar Machine Services, Bombay. Was a trustee of Bombay Andhra Mahasabha, the premier cultural organization of Telugu Speaking populace of Bombay. Founded STEP (Success Through Effective Performance) and conducts lectures/workshops on different personality development skills including motivation sessions.
Duvvuri thanks: His family for living with him despite his whims and fancies. Venkata Nemani, a fan who urged the poet to compile his works into ‘Rain of Petals’. Chikku, (the 2 year old third daughter of abstract artist and painter Mahesh Laxman Anjarlekar), for not disturbing her dad while designing the cover of this book at his studio in Bombay. And all those real life incidents characters who inspired directly or indirectly to pen down his emotions.
Other books released this season from the same house: ‘Health and Youth’ by Gouri Shankar Nemani, 125
‘Rain of Petals’ by Prabhakar Duvvuri
ISBN: 0967271150.
Other books released this season from the same house: ‘How to Choose your Career’ by Gouri Shankar Nemani ISBN: 0967271010 (multicolor soft cover edition)
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Coming up from VHRS Media… Troop: Sound Soul Churners Sound tracks of, “Independent Flavor” e-touch: indee4u@gmail.com 1) Wind Chill in Chicago….(Symphony) 2) What’s up my cousin (hip hop duet) 3) Indee is the rapper (rap solo with scintillating percussion) 4) Enjoying music is an asset (slow classic melody) 5) There is a slot (rock) 6) Mardigras de French Quarter (Symphony) Enjoying music is an asset… Humming a number blissfull, Enjoying music is an asset… Humming a number blissfull, Rhythm and Meter stick to each other… Flow of melody is so lovely…. Coming up from VHRS Media… Audio Visual CD version of ‘Rain of Petals’ 150 minutes of presentation on a single CD/DVD With original sound tracks in Sitar, Piano, Sarangi, Shehnai and Carnatic Flute. Rendererd by a sonorous voice. Built in Flash lite on Symbian for Series 60, UIQ 3.0 for majority of Nokia and Sonyrecisson phones to delight the ‘MMS-generation’ youth. For flashcasting, podcasting in i-phones, ipod series. 127