LIFE & ITS VERSATILITIES

Life

Life is an unchosen gift which we should try to make the most of. In our ignorance, we generally waste most of our time. By the time we realize its importance, much of it has been wasted.  It is a pity we do not carry forward knowledge from our previous incarnations and we have to start afresh. Life remains a process of learning only. Life can be best spent if we understand in the beginning that we are not the masters of the game. We are passive participants. We have been dealt some cards and we are expected to play the game to the best of our wits.

The important thing is that we should play a fair game. Those who underplay or overplay it, soon come to grief after a brief period of exuberance. We can instill meaning into our lives by being good at heart, being helpful to others, and not harboring ill will against anyone. It is good if we can forgive the people who have played false with us. The most important thing in our life is not wealth, nor possessions, but peace of mind and happiness. And we should not disturb others’ happiness, nor let others destroy ours.

Death

We erroneously think that death comes at the end of life. And it is a nightmarish experience. Yes, death is a bridge between life and eternity. Nobody has looked beyond what lies at the other side of the bridge. Death is a lingering phenomenon, which shadows our life. Every moment that we live, actually dies. So, all the day, the process of dying is on. Moments which we have lived are dead now, and they are becoming past. It should be remembered that there is no life without death, and no death without life. Inanimate things do not die. For a living thing, it is a privilege to decline as time passes, and finally die, giving space to the new. It is better we learn to understand that where there is life, there is death.

Birth                

Birth, marriage and death are three occasions in life which are considered most important. When we come to life, we have no options. We do not know who places the order for us, and who delivers us on to the earth. Mother is there, but she too is a passive agency. The decision for a person to be born in a particular family is taken at the highest level. The person is not consulted where he will be born, when he will be born, and what will be his colour, his religion, and his stature. Things are just given to him like gifts in one stroke and he is made to move. Now, it is in our hands how to understand this life. The entire life sometimes passes and still we are unaware of our destiny. Why a man has come to this earth? This question we must ask ourselves. We have not come simply to earn money and eat and drink and make merry. There are other reasons, some higher reasons, which bring us to this earth. In the absence of that knowledge, for most of he people, it is a blind trudge only.

Marriage/Family

A man has to raise a family for the purposes of reproduction, and our society wants him to marry. Everybody marries, everybody has one or two kids, and people know the kids have to be given education, and when they grow up, married off. But the task is very tough. The most basic issue for the couple is to stay together even if they do not  understand each other. Kids too when grow up, no one knows what they will be in their lives, even if they are given equal nourishment.

The essential issue here is: Should every one marry? Those who cannot compromise with others, must not marry. If you marry, then be ready to share your time with someone whom you don’t know. It is better people who marry know each other for at least six months. Once kids are there, no couple should be allowed to separate so long as the kids are below the age of 5 years. It is easy to break a family, and it is very difficult to stay together. It is better if we try to stay in marriage. Breakage can destroy the lives of the kids. Family is the smallest unit of the society. It must have harmony. We should see there is compatibility between the partners. And there is love too. Otherwise, it is a picnic party which ends in brick bats.

Children

People these days are so fed up with their lives, and careerism, that they do not want kids. But in view of the modern wisdom, they go for women who are in service. They have to postpone childing under pressures of the work. Then, they do not have quality time for their infant kids. We are not fair. Because, this is what the kids will visit upon us when they grow up, and we grow down.

It is essential we allow the kids to grow, and acquire the qualifications they wish to get, join the stream of life which best suits them, and then, separate them from the main family unit, and let them run their own family. Distance is a great healer. It is a must if we want to see peace between the MIL and the DIL. [Mother-in-law and the Daugher-in-Law].

Author:

Dr Jernail Singh Anand, President of the International Academy of Ethics, is author of 167 books in English poetry, fiction, non-fiction, philosophy and spirituality. He was awarded Charter of Morava, the great Award by Serbian Writers Association, Belgrade and his name was engraved on the Poets’ Rock in Serbia. The Academy of Arts and philosophical Sciences of Bari  [Italy] honoured him with the award of an Honourable Academic.  Recently, he was awarded Doctor of Philosophy [Honoris Causa] by the University of Engg and Management, Jaipur. Recently, he organized an International Conference on Contemporary Ethics at Chandigarh. His most phenomenal book is Lustus: The Prince of Darkness [first epic of the Mahkaal Trilogy]. [Email: anandjs55@yahoo.com Mobile: 919876652401[Whatsapp] [ethicsacademy.co.in]

Link Bibliography:

https://atunispoetry.com/2023/12/08/indian-author-dr-jernail-s-anand-honoured-at-the-60th-belgrade-international-meeting-of-writers/

https://sites.google.com/view/bibliography-dr-jernal-singh/home

EMPTY AND PEBBLED
--Cheops Beach in autumn

Naked we together again run
on our gold dust and pearls
beside the sleeping sea.
The waning sun beads our skin
while the wind smothers our lungs.

Every vagina is exposed,
a messy lagar where the wine is formed.
Any penis is Hermetical, closed,
an opaque clarinet.

Today the halves of the hinge
are rusty, stiff, and worn.

These times before,
nipple and prick would respond
to the air the sheen the motion
with alert anticipation.
These times before. But no more.

This is what this fall displays:
our lifetimes are pyramids
infinite at base
inexorable toward the point.


TAKE ME IN

“Take me in.” the poet prayed, “take me in.” The prophet hid.
“Take me in,” the poet said. “take me in.
No banker paid. “Take me in.” The soldier fled;
“Sink or swim,” the lawyer pled. “Take me in,”
the poet said, take me in.”
A woman did.

“Make me warm,” the woman cried, “safe from harm.”
The poet sighed. “Words are thin,” he did reply, “weak and thin.
But yet I’ll try. Weak and thin, but yet I’ll try.”

In the bin by page by page,
in the bin the books were laid,
inch by inch were set ablaze.
Line by line the match was lit.
Word by word
the poems all went.

“Now I’m warm,” the woman said,
“safe from harm. But poet’s dead.”
Poet dead?
Poet dead?
He lives on inside her head.
His words go on inside her head.


JENNIFER IN TWO VOICES

I know why the sky sings the blues – for you, Jenny, for you – atmosphere breaks down and cries. Once the wind must have had your voice: Wind makes my soul rejoice to hear you echo once more. Your precious beauty to preserve, earth freezes to its nerves in ecstasies of ermine. And the waves for you outreach – the sea begs up the beach, hands-&-knees its way in pride. And trees have honored you in gold, red carpet where you rode, jade ceilings and emerald floors -- nature’s learned your lesson well how to be beautiful: your appearance is your sermon.

I know why the sky sings the blues – for you, Jenny, for you – atmosphere breaks down and cries. (Across the landscape many-firred, atmosphere breaks down and cries,) Once the wind must have had your voice: Wind makes my soul rejoice to hear you echo once more. (urges us make love manifold to hear your echo once more.) Your precious beauty to preserve, earth freezes to its nerves in ecstasies of ermine. (Among the creeks and conifers in ecstasies of ermine,) And the waves for you outreach – the sea begs up the beach, hands-&-knees its way in pride. (in fields of foxes henna-furred – I hands-n-knees my way inside,) And trees have honored you in gold, jade ceilings and emerald floors (where moist warmth is plentiful, on jade ceilings and emerald floors.) -- nature’s learned your lesson well how to be beautiful: your appearance is your sermon. (Raven-eyed/lynx-face Jennifer: Your appearance is your sermon.)

Across the landscape many-firred, atmosphere breaks down and cries, urges us make love manifold. To hear your echo once more among the creeks and conifers in ecstasies of ermine, in fields of foxes henna-furred – I hands-n-knees my way inside where moist warmth is plentiful. On jade ceilings & emerald floors, raven-eyed/lynx-face Jennifer: Your appearance is your sermon.


AN ORDINARY LOVE STORY

If you are the vault, I
am the combination.
(a tux,
a mum,
a candled dinner)
If I am the match, you
are the conflagration.
(a kiss,
the cum,
those tangled
fingers)
If we are the watch, you
are the complication.


PEACE MEAL


…That night we dined. We had port and escargot
       and music,                      and the candles kissed the wine, the
WE                           *I                 way
       WERE                   *tried        one
REFUGEES                          *to  would                                                     the
        WEIGHING --minds not on *hold or cargo,                          rosebud
              INTO  (the)                   pearls*her                                        parted,
                     (PORT)                     or           *eyes                        blossomed,
                   (pearled)  FROM       fine                  *in                            grew
                           (on)               CHINA.                     *mine.
                          (her)                                           OR                           toward
   Fine food our (lips) barely touched--     SOME                                  the
                         (like)                   OTHER                                                    sun
                        (dew)               FAR                                                                in
                           (on) WHERE.                                                                     my
                (rosebuds,)                  Words chilled                                     eyes,
(like rain on shipsail)                      in the air.                                      kissed
      (as from her port)                   Finely she said: we’re through.       the
              (she slipped)                                                                                  sun, And cried.
And I cried too.                                   And then we left, as diners do
                                                                          when they are finished.

he was a scorpion sting away from a desert metanoia




Night rain on Windsor Avenue
sycamore trees awash
in their own perfume 




the others haven't arrived, the silver maple waits with me



he doesn't think they'll put snow fences up this year



the tough knots of self-entanglement




the dog has found his spot




contemplating the potential lethality of today's activities 




football fields where I put my dinosaurs down for naps



teaching me to pronounce Demosthenes



say, Ethiopia, three times...
I've been doing it
all day!


Don Juan's Reckless Daughter's here, 
and we get wine delivered
to the front door



pale green kitchen archive of shuffling slippers across the linoleum floor




joining the general fate of all five-hour bus riders

My Turtkul!

     Independence! What a beautiful line of words! At its core lies a world of meanings and freedom. There is no greater happiness in the world than the freedom of an individual, a society, a nation. After the years of independence, many cities were built, parks, buildings and facilities were built, as well as many schools, buildings and dormitories for higher educational institutions. It is not an exaggeration to say that Uzbekistan has changed beyond recognition and has made progress. 

   In recent years, Tortkol district has developed like other districts and cities.  

  The lands of our Tortkol district lie on the shores of Amudarya. We have a very beautiful, poetic nature, kind and friendly people. These farmers of the old land have come down to the language of the country with their selfless work since time immemorial. 

  20,000 hectares of land in Tortkol district are cultivated. Now this indicator is increasing day by day. 

  Tortkol districts differed from other districts with their own characteristics. In particular, the hard work of the residents of this district, the equal love of books by young and old people, especially the fact that there are more poets in Tortkol district than in other districts, is recognized by the whole of Uzbekistan.

    Tortkol district is the first capital of Karakalpakstan, scientists who spread fame to the world, most of the achievements in literature and art, culture and sports are also in Tortkol district.

   The people of Uzbekistan have great respect and love for Tortkol district. Because Tortkol district has achieved a lot like its active young people. 

   Our district was established on July 3, 1927, and has been widely known not only in Uzbekistan and the world for almost a century. 

  In our district there are more than 22 mahalla citizens’ meetings, more than 15 village citizens’ meetings.

   The achievements of our district are many. For example, six of our veterans who took part in the Second World War, 4 of our venerable mothers and fathers who are over 100 years old live in our district. About three hundred of our veterans working behind the front live. 

  This, of course, awakens special feelings of pride in our hearts.

  Tortkol District Governor Rustam Shamuratov, Tortkol District Authority and citizens of Tortkol District have an incomparable role in the achievements of Tortkol District, which is such a beautiful country, loved and honored by such a country. 

  The mayor of Tortkol district R. Shamuratov has also contributed to the development of Tortkol district in recent years. In recent years, roads have been paved, new kindergartens have been opened, various confectionery brands, facilities have been built, and their role is incomparable in the fact that attention is being paid to the education of young people.

    Abdulla Oripov, the national poet of Uzbekistan, the beloved poet of the hero of Uzbekistan, said about Tortkol district: 

  – Every time I went to Karakalpak land, which is like an endless desert, I was fascinated by its beautiful nature and I was satisfied with the hospitality of my aunt’s children. My visits to ancient and modern Tortkol were no exception. It is not an exaggeration to say that I wish Tortkol to become the pride of this country. In fact, it is not an exaggeration to say that the hospitality of our people and the beautiful nature of Tortkol surprised all our poets and writers teachers. Yusupov (People’s Poet of Uzbekistan and Karakalpakstan, Hero of Uzbekistan) Tolepbergen Kayipbergenov (People’s Poet of Uzbekistan and Karakalpakstan, Hero of Uzbekistan) Sirojiddin Syed (First Deputy Chairman of the Writers’ Union of Uzbekistan) also expressed very warm opinions.

 We are proud to be the children of the Tortkol nation with such a bright future and a history of almost a century.

Oghiloy Aminova was born in Tortkol district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan. Member of the Writers’ Union of Argentina. Holder of the International Order of “Friendship”.