School poems that I can't forget

Tears, Idle Tears

2008-06-11T11:45:00.000-07:00

by Lord Alfred Tennyson

Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean,
Tears from the depth of some divine despair
Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,
In looking on the happy Autumn-fields,
And thinking of the days that are no more.

Fresh as the first beam glittering on a sail,
That brings our friends up from the underworld,
Sad as the last which reddens over one
That sinks with all we love below the verge;
So sad, so fresh, the days that are no more.

Ah, sad and strange as in dark summer dawns
The earliest pipe of half-awakened birds
To dying ears, when unto dying eyes
The casement slowly grows a glimmering square;
So sad, so strange, the days that are no more.

Dear as remembered kisses after death,
And sweet as those by hopeless fancy feigned
On lips that are for others; deep as love,
Deep as first love, and wild with all regret;
O Death in Life, the days that are no more

Avatar

2008-05-16T11:01:00.000-07:00

कवि: वेद व्यास	Poet: Ved Vyas	Translation: the maVerick
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत । अभ्युत्थानं अधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम ॥	Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata Abhyutthanam adharmasya tadatmanam srjamyaham	O Bharat! Whenever, wherever dharma is corrupted, on the decline And adharma takes hold, I manifest myself, in an avatar mine
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम । धर्म संस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवानि युगे युगे ॥ (महाभारत से)	Paritranaya saadhunam vinashaya cha dushkrrtam Dharm sansthapnarthaya sambhavani yuge yuge	For the deliverance of the virtuous and for destruction of evil For the establishment of dharma in every era, I become possible (from the epic poem Mahabharata)

Hindi version - हिन्दी में
Translation: Anonymous
(Loose translation - transformation of first person to third person)

जब जब होए धरम की हानि
बाढ़ें असुर अधम अभिमानी
तब तब परभु ले मनुज सरीरा
नासें कस्ट हरें सब पीरा

Karm (Duty)

2008-04-27T13:57:00.000-07:00

कवि: वेद व्यास	Poet: Ved Vyas	Translation: the maVerick
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन। मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते संगोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥ (महाभारत से)	Karmanyevadhikaraste ma faleshu kadachan Ma karmfalheturburma te sangostvakarmane	You are entitled only to your assigned actions, Don't hanker for the fruit of your labor Do not think you caused the results, And never from doing your duty waver (from the epic poem Mahabharata)

Fire and Ice

2008-03-23T13:52:00.000-07:00

Poet: Robert Frost

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To know that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

A Poison Tree

2008-02-17T13:40:00.000-08:00

Poet: William Blake

I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I watered it in fears
Night and morning with my tears,
And I sunned it with smiles
And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright,
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine -

And into my garden stole
When the night had veiled the pole;
In the morning, glad, I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

The Road Not Taken

2008-01-26T11:32:00.000-08:00

Poet: Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

O Do Not Love Too Long

2007-12-31T04:40:00.000-08:00

Poet: William Butler Yeats

Sweetheart, do not love too long:
I loved long and long,
And grew to be out of fashion
Like an old song.
All through the years of our youth
Neither could have known
Their own thought from the other's,
We were so much at one.
But O, in a minute she changed -
O do not love too long,
Or you will grow out of fashion
Like an old song.

Love and Power

2007-11-30T09:07:00.000-08:00

Poet: "Gurudev" Rabindranath Tagore

Power said to the world, "You are mine."
The world kept it prisoner on her throne.
Love said to the world, "I am thine."
The world gave it the freedom of her house.

(excerpt from his long poem "Stray Birds")

The Indian Serenade

2007-10-03T16:41:00.000-07:00

Poet: Percy Bysshe Shelley

I arise from dreams of thee
In the first sweet sleep of night,
When the winds are breathing low,
And the stars are shining bright.
I arise from dreams of thee,
And a spirit in my feet
Has led me -who knows how?
To thy chamber-window, Sweet!

The wandering airs they faint
On the dark, the silent stream -
The champak odours fail
Like sweet thoughts in a dream;
The nightingale's complaint,
It dies upon her heart,
As I must die on thine,
O beloved as thou art!

Oh lift me from the grass!
I die! I faint! I fail!
Let thy love in kisses rain
On my lips and eyelids pale.
My cheek is cold and white, alas!
My heart beats loud and fast;
Oh press it close to thine again,
Where it will break at last!

Kabir ke Dohe (Kabir's Couplets)

2007-09-14T04:21:00.001-07:00

कवि: कबीर	Poet: Kabir	Translation: the maVerick
गुरु गोबिन्द दोउ खडे काके लागूँ पाँय बलिहारी गुरु आपने गोबिन्द दियो बताय	Guru gobind dou khade, kaake lagoon paay Balihari guru aapne gobind diyo batay	Guru and God both are here to whom should I first bow All glory be unto the guru path to God who did bestow
कबीरा ते नर अंध है गुरु को कहते और हरि रूठे गुरु ठौर है गुरु रूठे नही ठौर	Kabira te nar andh hai, guru ko kahate aur Hari roothe guru thaur hai, guru roothe nahi thaur	O Kabir, that man is blind who doesn't understand the guru If God's angry, guru's the refuge no refuge for one who angers guru
जो तोको काँटा बुवे ताहे बोव तू फूल तोहे फूल को फूल है ताहे है तिरसूल	Jo toko kaanta buve, taahe bov tu phool Tohe phool ko phool hai, taahe hai tirsool	For those who sow thorns for you you should sow a flower For you flower's a flower but for them it's a spear dour
तिनका कबहु ना निन्दिये जो पांव तल्ले होए कबहु उडि आंख पडे पीर घनेरी होए	Tinka kabahu na nindiye, jo paanv talle hoye Kabahu udi aankh pade, peer ghaneri hoye	Don't insult even a speck though it's under your foot Think how painful it'd be if it flew into your eye like soot
बड़ा हुआ तो क्या हुआ जैसे पेड़ खजूर पंथी को छाया नहीं फल लागे अति दूर	Bada hua toh kya hua, jaise ped khajoor Panthi ko chhaya nahi, phal laage ati door	Having stature is not enough if one's like a tree of date No shade to tired trekker fruit's too high up to eat
बड़ा ना होवे गुणन बिन बिरद बड़ाई पाय कहत धतूरे सो कनक गेंहू गरियो ना जाय	Bada na hove gunan bin, birad badai paye Kahat dhatoore so kanak, genhu gariyo na jaye	No one's great without qualities howmuchever they may be praised Thornapple is called gold wheat it still can't replace
ऐसी बानी बोलिए मन का आपा खोय औरन को सीतल करे आपहु सीतल होय	Aisi baani boliye, man ka aapa khoye Auran ko seetal kare, aapahu seetal hoye	Speak in words so sweet that fill the heart with joy Like a cool breeze in summer for others and self to enjoy
बुरा जो देखन मैं चली बुरा ना मिल्या कोय जो मन खोजा आपना मुझ से बुरा ना कोय	Bura jo dekhan mai chali, bura na milya koi Jo man khoja aapna, mujhse bura na koi	I searched for evil and I could find none I looked in my heart, found the biggest one
साधू ऐसा चाहिऐ जैसा सूप सुभाय सार सार को गहि रहे थोथा देय उडाय	Saadhu aisa chahiye, jaisa soop subhay Saar saar ko gahi rahe, thotha de udaay	A gentleman is like a thresher in character As it absorbs the core fluff it lets skitter
माटी कहे कुम्हार से तू क्या रौंदे मोय एक दिन ऐसा आएगा मैं रौंदूंगी तोय	Maati kahe kumhar se, tu kya raunde moye Ek din aisa aayega, main raundoongi toye	Earth says to the potter you think you knead me One day soon you'll see I'll knead you easily
काल करे सो आज कर आज करे सो अब पल में परलै होयगी बहुरि करेगा कब	Kaal kare so aaj kar, aaj kare so ab Pal mein parlai hoyegi, bahuri karega kab	Tomorrow's work, do today today's work, do now Life will end in a moment when will you do it, how
धीरे धीरे रे मना धीरे सब कुछ होए माली सींचे सौ घड़ा रुत आये फल होए	Dheere dheere re manaa, dheere sab kuchh hoye Maali seenche sau ghada, rut aaye phal hoye	Gradually, my heart, gradually everything happens in its due course Gardner could water a hundred times fruits are not borne by force
माया मरी ना मन मरा मर मर गए शरीर आशा तृष्णा ना मरी कह गए दास कबीर	Maya mari na man maraa, mar mar gaye sareer Aasha trishna naa mari, kah gaye daas Kabir	Illusions nor desires died bodies died over and again Hope and wants do not die says Kabir, that's the game
कबिरा प्याला प्रेम का अंतर लिया लगाय रोम रोम में रमी रहे और अमल क्या खाय	Kabira pyaala prem ka, antar liya lagaye Rom rom mein rami rahe, aur amal kya khaye	Kabir, the cup of love I've ingested, assimilated It's in my every pore nothing's more intoxicating
पोथी पढी पढी जग मुआ पंडित भया ना कोय ढाई आखर प्रेम का पढे सो पंडित होय	Pothi padhi padhi jag mua, pandit bhaya na koi Dhai aakhar prem ka, padhe so pandit hoye	Read all books in the world it will not make you wise Only wise ones are that know four letter that love comprise

Where the Mind is Without Fear

2007-08-15T23:53:00.000-07:00

Poet: "Gurudev" Rabindranath Tagore

Where the mind is without fear
and the head is held high;

Where knowledge is free,
Where the world has not been
broken up into fragments
by narrow domestic walls;

Where words come out
from the depth of truth;

Where tireless striving
stretches its arm towards perfection;

Where the clear stream of reason
has not lost its way
into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;

Where the mind
is led forward by thee into
ever-widening thought and action

Into that heaven of freedom,
my Father, let my country awake.

Not in Vain

2007-07-01T07:12:00.000-07:00

Poet: Emily Dickinson

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

2007-06-01T07:08:00.000-07:00

Poet: Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Hope is the thing with Feathers

2007-05-12T14:35:00.000-07:00

Poet: Emily Dickinson

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chilliest land
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

Confessions of a born spectator

2007-05-03T17:21:00.000-07:00

Poet: Ogden Nash

One infant grows up and becomes a jockey
Another plays basketball or hockey

This one the prize ring hates to enter
That one becomes a tackle or center

I am just glad as glad can be
That I am not them, that they are not me

With all my heart I do admire
Athletes who sweat for fun or hire

Who take the field in gaudy pomp
And maim each other as they romp

My limp and bashful spirit feeds
On other people's heroic deeds

Now A runs ninety yards to score
B knocks the champion to the floor

Crisking vertebrae and spines
Lashes his steed across the line

You'd think my ego it would please
To swap positions with one of these

Well, ego it might be pleased enough
But zealous athletes play so rough

They do not ever in their dealings
Consider one another's feelings

I'm glad that when my struggle begins
'Twixt prudence and ego, prudence wins

When swollen eye meets gnarled first
When snaps the knee, and cracks the wrist

When officialdom demands
Is there a doctor in the stands?

My soul in true thanksgiving speaks
For this modest of physiques

"Athletes, I'll drink to you,
Or eat with you
Or anything except compete with you

Buy tickets worth their radium
To watch you gamble in the stadium

And reassure myself anew
That you are not me and I'm not you

Time

2007-04-15T17:06:00.000-07:00

Poet: Percy Bysshe Shelley

Unfathomable Sea! whose waves are years,
Ocean of Time, whose waters of deep woe
Are brackish with the salt of human tears!
Thou shoreless flood, which in thy ebb and flow
Claspest the limits of mortality,
And sick of prey, yet howling on for more,
Vomitest thy wrecks on its inhospitable shore;
Treacherous in calm, and terrible in storm,
Who shall put forth on thee,
Unfathomable Sea?

Aur bhi doon (To give some more)

2007-03-13T14:28:00.000-07:00

कवि: राम अवतार त्यागी	Poet: Ram Avtar Tyagi	Translation: the maVerick
मन समर्पित, तन समर्पित और यह जीवन समर्पित चाहता हूँ देश की धरती तुझे कुछ और भी दूं	Man samarpit, tan samarpit Aur yah jeevan samarpit Chaahtaa hoon desh ki dharti tujhey kuchh aur bhi doon	Soul is yours, body is yours And my whole life is yours Motherland, I want to give you some more
माँ तुम्हारा ॠण बहुत है, मैं अकिंचन किन्तु इतना कर रहा फिर भी निवेदन थाल में लाऊँ सजा कर भाल जब भी कर दया स्वीकार लेना वह समर्पण	Ma tumhara rin bahut hai, mai akinchan Kintu itna kar raha phir bhi nivedan Thaal mein laoo saja kar bhaal jab bhi Kar daya sweekar lena wah samarpan	Mother my debt to you is great, I'm tiny Even so, here's my humble request When I bring my sacrificial head Please do accept the modest bequest
गान अर्पित, प्राण अर्पित रक्त का कण कण समर्पित चाहता हूँ देश की धरती तुझे कुछ और भी दूं	Gaan arpit, Praan arpit Raqt ka kan kan samarpit Chaahtaa hoon desh ki dharti tujhey kuchh aur bhi doon	Songs are yours, spirit is yours Every drop of my blood is yours Motherland, I want to give you some more
मांज दो तलवार, लाओ न देरी बाँध दो कस कर क़मर पर ढाल मेरी भाल पर मल दो चरण की धूल थोड़ी शीश पर आशीष की छाया घनेरी	Maanj do talwaar, lao na deri Bandh do kas kar kamar par dhaal meri Bhaal par mal do charan ki dhool thodi Sheesh par asheesh ki chhaya ghaneri	Whet the machete, don't delay Tie the shield securely to my belt Your blessings be my armor, and On forehead, some dust from your feet
स्वप्न अर्पित, प्रश्न अर्पित आयु का क्षण क्षण समर्पित चाहता हूँ देश की धरती तुझे कुछ और भी दूं	Swapn arpit, prashn arpit Aayu ka kshan kshan samarpit Chaahtaa hoon desh ki dharti tujhey kuchh aur bhi doon	Dreams are yours, questions are yours Every breath of my existence is yours Motherland, I want to give you some more
तोड़ता हूँ मोह का बन्धन, क्षमा दो गांव मेरे, द्वार, घर, आंगन क्षमा दो आज सीधे हाथ में तलवार दे दो और बायें हाथ में ध्वज को थमा दो	Todta hoon moh ka bandhan, kshama do Gaon mere, dwar, ghar, aangan kshama do Aaj seedhe haath mein talwaar de do Aur bayeen haath mein dhwaj ko thama do	Breaking the bonds of love, and I beg pardon Village, home, farm of mine, I beg pardon Today, just give me a sword in the right And in my left give me the banner emblem
यह सुमन लो, यह चमन लो नीड़ का त्रण त्रण समर्पित चाहता हूँ देश की धरती तुझे कुछ और भी दूं	Yah suman lo, yah chaman lo Need ka tran tran samarpit Chaahtaa hoon desh ki dharti tujhey kuchh aur bhi doon	Take this flower, take this garden Every twig of my nest is yours Motherland, I want to give you some more

The horseshoe nail

2007-02-08T13:24:00.000-08:00

Poet: George Herbert

For the want of a nail
The shoe is lost

For the want of a shoe
The horse is lost

For the want of a horse
The rider is lost

For the want of a rider
The battle is lost

For the want of a battle
The kingdom is lost

And all for the loss
Of a horse shoe nail

Jeevan nahi mara karta hai (Life - it does not die)

2007-01-14T08:51:00.000-08:00

कवि: गोपाल दास "नीरज"	Poet: Gopal Das "Neeraj"	Translation: the maVerick
छिप छिप अश्रु बहाने वालो मोती व्यर्थ लुटाने वालो कुछ सपनो के मर जाने से जीवन नही मरा करता है	Chhip chhip ashru bahaney walo Moti vyarth lutaney walo Kuchh sapno ke mar jaaney se Jeevan nahi mara karta hai	O thee who stealthily shed tears Who waste these pearls of their eye If some dreams cease to be Life doesn't end, it doesn't die
सपना क्या है, नयन सेज पर सोया हुआ आंख का पानी और टूटना है उसका ज्यों जागे कच्ची नींद जवानी	Sapna kya hai, nayan sej par Soya hua aankh ka paani Aur tootna hai uska jyon Jaagey kachchi neend jawani	What's a dream? Just a dew-drop On your eye, amidst a siesta deep And its dissipation is as if Youth is woken-up mid-sleep
गीली उमर बनाने वालो डूबे बिना नहाने वालो कुछ पानी के बह जाने से सावन नही मरा करता है	Geeli umar bananey walo Doobey bina nahaney walo Kuchh paani ke bah jaaney se Saawan nahi mara karta hai	O thee who make their lives moist Who bathe, but don't immerse, o why If some water flows out and away Monsoon doesn't end, it doesn't die
माला बिखर गई तो क्या खुद ही हल हो गई समस्या आँसू ग़र नीलाम हुए तो समझो पूरी हुई तपस्या	Maala bikhar gai to kya Khud hi hal ho gai samasya Anshoo gar neelaam huey toh Samjho poori hui tapasya	So what if the beads scattered The problem is resolved per se If your tears are auctioned off Then your penance is complete
रूठे दिवस मनाने वालो फटी कमीज़ सिलाने वालो कुछ दीपों के बुझ जाने से आंगन नही मरा करता है	Roothey diwas mananey walo Fati kameez silaaney walo Kuchh deepon ke bujh jaaney se Aangan nahi mara karta hai	O thee who spend their days glum Who sew their torn shirts and cry If some lamps get extinguished The porch stays, it doesn't die
खोता कुछ भी नहीं यहाँ पर के़वल जिल्द बदलती पोथी जैसे रात उतार चांदनी पहने सुबह धूप की धोती	Khota kuchh bhi nahi yahan par Kewal jild badalti pothi Jaise raat utaar chaandni Pehne subah dhoop ki dhoti	Nothing gets lost here The book changes its cover Like the night peels moonlight In the morn to be sun-ray lover
वस्त्र बदलकर आने वालो चाल बदलकर जाने वालो चंद खिलौनों के खोने से बचपन नही मरा करता है	Vastr badalkar aaney walo Chaal badalkar jaaney walo Chand khilono ke khoney se Bachpan nahi mara karta hai	O thee who change clothes and come Who go, but in new pomp and style If lost is the moon you thought a toy Childhood doesn't end, it doesn't die
लाखों बार गगरियां फूटीं शि़क़न न आई पर पनघट पर लाखों बार कश्तियां डूबीं चहल पहल वोही है तट पर	Laakhon baar gagriyan phooti Shikan na aayi par panghat par Laakhon baar kashtiyan doobi Chahal pahal woi hai tat par	Many, many pots n pails have broken Not a crease on the well's face o muscle Many, many boats have sunk The shore has the same hustle-bustle
तम की उम्र बढाने वालो लौ की आयु घटाने वालो लाख करे पतझर कोशिश पर उपवन नही मरा करता है	Tam ki umr badhaaney walo Lau ki aayu ghataaney walo Laakh kare patjhar koshish par Upvan nahi mara karta hai	O thee who extend the darkness Who reduce the life of light Fall may try, and then try The orchard lives, it doesn't die
लूट लिया माली ने उपवन लुटी न लेकिन गंध फूल की तूफानों तक ने छेड़ा पर खिड़की बंद न हुई धूल की	Loot liya maali ne upvan Lutee na lekin gandh phool ki Toofaano tak ne chheda par Khidki band na hui dhool ki	The gardener pillaged the garden Flower's fragrance couldn't be stolen Even storms tried playing with it But window of dust would remain open
नफरत गले लगाने वालो सब पर धूल उडाने वालो कुछ मुखडों की नाराज़ी से दर्पन नही मरा करता है	Nafrat galey lagaaney walo Sab par dhool udaaney walo Kuchh mukhdon ki naaraazi se Darpan nahi mara karta hai	O thee who embrace hatered Who throw dirt on every guy Even if some faces are upset The mirror stays, it doesn't die

Shakti aur Kshama (Strength and Mercy)

2006-12-07T07:43:00.000-08:00

कवि: रामधारी सिंह "दिनकर"	Poet: Ramdhari Singh "Dinkar"	Translation: the maVerick
क्षमा, दया, तप, त्याग, मनोबल सबका लिया सहारा पर नर व्याघ सुयोधन तुमसे कहो कहाँ कब हारा?	Kshama, daya, tap, tyaag, manobal Sabka liya sahara Par nar vyagh Suyodhan tumse Kaho kahan kab haara?	Mercy, resolve, tact, tolerance You've tried everything and some But o my king of men When did Suyodhan succumb?
क्षमाशील हो ॠपु-सक्षम तुम हुये विनीत जितना ही दुष्ट कौरवों ने तुमको कायर समझा उतना ही	Kshamasheel ho rrpu-saksham Tum huye vineet jitna hi Dusht Kauravon ne tumko Kaayar samjha utna hi	The more forgiving you were In your humane compassion The more these rouge Kauravas Pegged you as cowardly ashen
अत्याचार सहन करने का कुफल यही होता है पौरुष का आतंक मनुज कोमल होकर खोता है	Atyachar sahan karne ka Kufal yahi hota hai Paurush ka aatank manuj Komal hokar khota hai	This is the consequence Of tolerating atrocities The awe of machismo is lost When one's gentle n kindly
क्षमा शोभती उस भुजंग को जिसके पास गरल है उसका क्या जो दंतहीन विषरहित विनीत सरल है	Kshama shobhti us bhujang ko Jiske paas garal hai Uska kya jo dantheen Vishrahit vineet saral hai	Forgiveness is becoming of The serpent that's got venom None cares for the toothless, Poisonless, kind, gentle one
तीन दिवस तक पंथ मांगते रघुपति सिंधु किनारे बैठे पढते रहे छन्द अनुनय के प्यारे प्यारे	Teen divas tak panth mangte Raghupati sindhu kinare Baithey padhtey rahey chhand Anunay ke pyaare pyaare	For three days Lord Raam kept Asking the ocean for a passage Sitting there he petitioned Using the sweetest words to engage
उत्तर में जब एक नाद भी उठा नही सागर से उठी अधीर धधक पौरुष की आग राम के शर से	Uttar mein jab ek naad bhi Utha nahi saagar se Uthi adheer dhadhak paurush ki Aag raam ke shar se	When in response there was Not a whisper from the sea A raging fire of endeavor Rose from Raam's body
सिंधु देह धर त्राहि-त्राहि करता आ गिरा शरण में चरण पूज दासता गृहण की बंधा मूढ़ बन्धन में	Sindhu deh dhar trahi-trahi Karta aa gira sharan mein Charan pooj daasta grrhan ki Bandha moodh bandhan mein	The ocean took human-form 'N supplicated to Raam Touched his feet, was subservient A slave he had become
सच पूछो तो शर में ही बसती है दीप्ति विनय की संधिवचन सम्पूज्य उसीका जिसमे शक्ति विजय की	Sach poochho to shar mein hi Basti hai deepti vinay ki Sandhivachan sampoojya usika Jisme shakti vijay ki	Truth be told, it's in the quiver That lies the gleam of modesty Only his peace-talk is reputable Who is capable of victory
सहनशीलता, क्षमा, दया को तभी पूजता जग है बल का दर्प चमकता उसके पीछे जब जगमग है	Sahansheelta, kshama, daya ko Tabhi poojta jag hai Bal ka darp chamakta uskey Peechhey jab jagmag hai	Tolerance, forgiveness and clemency Are respected by the world Only when the glow of strength From behind them is unfurled

Success is counted sweetest

2006-11-16T07:41:00.000-08:00

Poet: Emily Dickinson

Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne'er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.

Not one of all the purple host
Who took the flag to-day
Can tell the definition,
So clear, of victory!

As he, defeated, dying,
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Burst agonized and clear!

Ozymandius

2006-10-11T07:38:00.000-07:00

Poet: Percy Bysshe Shelley

I met a traveler from an antique land
Who said: "Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert... Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal these words appear:
My name is Ozymandius, King of Kings,
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

Khooni Hastakshar (Bloody Signature)

2006-09-09T21:59:00.000-07:00

कवि: गोपाल प्रसाद व्यास	Poet: Gopal Prasad Vyas	Translation: the maVerick
वह ख़ून कहो किस मतलब का जिसमें उबाल का नाम नहीं! वह ख़ून कहो किस मतलब का आ सके देश के काम नहीं!	Wah khoon kaho kis matlab ka Jisme ubaal ka naam nahi Wah khoon kaho kis matlab ka Aa sakey desh ke kaam nahi	Of what good is the blood that can't come to a boil? Of what good is the blood that can't protect its soil?
वह ख़ून कहो किस मतलब का जिसमें जीवन, न रवानी है! जो परवश में होकर बहता है, वह ख़ून नहीं है, पानी है!	Wah khoon kaho kis matlab ka Jisme jeevan na ravaani hai Jo parvash mein hokar behta hai Wah khoon nahi hai paani hai	Of what good is the blood that's not alive with ardor? The blood that flows not free it's not blood, it's water!
उस दिन लोगों ने सही सही खूँ की कीमत पहचानी थी. जिस दिन सुभाष ने बर्मा में मांगी उनसे कुर्बानी थी.	Us din logon ne sahee sahee Khoon ki keemat pehchaani thi Jis din Subhash ne Burma mein Maangi unsey qurbaani thi	The day blood got appreciated, when people realized its worth was in Burma when Subhash asked them to sacrifice for their earth.
बोले, "स्वतंत्रता की खातिर, बलिदान तुम्हें करना होगा. तुम बहुत जी चुके हो जग में, लेकिन आगे मरना होगा.	Bole swatantrata ki khatir Balidaan tumhe karna hoga Tum bahut ji chuke ho jag mein Lekin aage marna hoga	He said, "For your freedom, you'll have to sacrifice. You've lived enough in the world; now death is freedom's price.
आज़ादी के चरणों में जो जयमाल चढाई जाएगी, वह सुनो, तुम्हारे शीशों के फूलों से गूंथी जाएगी.	Aazadi ke charno mein jo jayamaal chadhai jayegi Vah suno tumhare sheeshon ke phoolon se goonthi jayegi	In the feet of freedom, the gardland that is spread, Listen! It will be woven with your severed heads.
आज़ादी का संग्राम कहीं पैसे पर खेला जाता है? यह शीश कटाने का सौदा नंगे सर झेला जाता है.	Aazadi ka sangram kahi Paise par khela jata hai? Ye sheesh katane ka sauda Nange sar jhela jata hai	The battle for independence isn't won on money, be sure. Commitment to supreme sacrifice is on barenecks endured.
आज़ादी का इतिहास कहीं काली स्याही लिख पाती है? इसके लिखने के लिए खून की नदी बहाई जाती है."	Aazadi ka itihaas kahin Kaali syaahi likh paati hai Iske likhne ke liye Khoon ki nadi bahai jaati hai	The history of freedom struggle, in black ink isn't written or read. For its sake, bravehearts have let loose floods of blood red."
यूँ कहते कहते वक्ता की आँखों में खून उतर आया. मुख रक्त वर्ण हो गया दमक उठी उनकी रक्तिम काया!	Yoon kahate kahate waqta ki Ankhon mein khoon utar aaya Mukh raqt varn ho gaya Damk uthi unki raqtim kaya	In so saying the speaker's eyes had become blood shot, face had acquired blood's hue blood-red body glowed, so hot.
आजानु बाहु ऊंची करके, वे बोले, "रक्त मुझे देना. इसके बदले में भारत की आज़ादी तुम मुझसे लेना."	Aajaanu baahu oonchi karkey Ve boley raqt mujhey dena Iske badle mein Bharat ki Aazadi tum mujhsey lena	He raised his hands, declared, "Give me your blood, come. And in fair exchange, I will give you freedom."
हो गई सभा में उथल पुथल, सीने में दिल न समाते थे. स्वर इंकलाब के नारों के कोसों तक झाए जाते थे.	Ho gai sabha mein uthal puthal Seene mein dil na samate the Swar inqlaab ke naaro ke Koson tak chhaye jaate the	There was a tumult in the crowd, hearts couldn't contain the joy. Rallying cries traveled miles, reaching the hoi polloi.
"हम देंगे देंगे ख़ून" शब्द बस यही सुनाई देते थे. रण में जाने को युवक खड़े तैयार दिखाई देते थे.	Hum denge denge khoon shabd bas yahi sunai dete the Rann mein jaane ko yuvak khade Tayyar dikhai dete the	"We are, we are ready to bleed" Only these words could be heard. To go into the battlefield, men stood ready, undeterred.
बोले सुभाष, "इस तरह नहीं बातों से मतलब सरता है. लो, यह कागज़ है, कौन यहाँ आकर हस्ताक्षर करता है?	Boley Subhash is tarah nahi Baaton se matlab sarta hai Lo yah kagaz hai kaun yahan Aakar hastakshar karta hai	Subhash dared, "Not like this! For they say talk is cheap. Seal your commitment now by signing on this sheet.
इसको भरनेवाले जन को सर्वस्व-समर्पण करना है. अपना तन-मन-धन-जन-जीवन माता को अर्पण करना है.	Isko bharne wale jan ko Sarvasv samarpan karna hai Apna tan man dhan jan jeevan Maata ko arpan karna hai	The person signing up here has to dedicate his all - possessions, relations, body, soul, whole life to this clarion call.
पर यह साधारण पत्र नहीं, आज़ादी का परवाना है. इस पर तुमको अपने तन का कुछ उज्ज्वल रक्त गिराना है!	Par yah saadhaaran patr nahi Aazaadi ka parwana hai Ispar tumko apney tan ka Kuchh ujjval raqt girana hai	But this is no ordinary letter; It's a declaration of independence. Drop some virile blood of your body on it, I give you the chance.
वह आगे आए जिसके तन में खून भारतीय बहता हो! वह आगे आए जो अपने को हिन्दुस्तानी कहता हो!	Wah aage aaye jiske tan mein Khoon bhartiya bahata ho Wah aage aaye jo apne ko Hindustani kahata ho	Step forward and be counted if Indian blood's in your veins. Step forward and be counted if you call yourself Indians.
वह आगे आए, जो इस पर खूनी हस्ताक्षर देता हो! मैं कफन बढाता हूँ, आए जो इसको हँसकर लेता हो!"	Wah aage aaye jo ispar khooni hastakshar deta ho Main qafan badhata hoon aaye Jo isko hanskar leta ho	Step forward and be counted by signing here in blood. I offer a shroud, come, to go with a smile into the mud."
सारी जनता हुंकार उठी - हम आते हैं, हम आते हैं! माता के चरणों में यह लो, हम अपना रक्त चढाते हैं!	Saari janta hunkaar uthi Hum aatey hain, hum aatey hain Maataa ke charnon mein yah lo Hum apna raqt chadhaate hain	Everyone shouted back, here we come, here we come. In the cause of the motherland, we'll give our blood some.
साहस से बढे युवक उस दिन, देखा, बढ़ते ही आते थे! चाकू-छुरी कटारियों से, अपना रक्त गिराते थे!	Saahas se badhey yuvak us din Dekha badhtey hi aatey they Chaaku chhuri kataariyon se Apna raqt giraatey they	The youth advanced with courage, and they kept climbing the stairs. With blades, knives, and steel, they'd drop some blood of theirs.
फिर उसी रक्त की स्याही में, वे अपनी कलम डुबोते थे! आज़ादी के परवाने पर हस्ताक्षर करते जाते थे!	Phir usi raqt ki syaahi mein Ve apna kalam dubotey they Aazaadi ke parwaney par Hastakshar kartey jatey they	Then in the ink of that blood, they'd dip the nibs of their pen and make their signatures on the declaration of independence.
उस दिन तारों ने देखा था हिन्दुस्तानी विश्वास नया. जब लिखा था रणवीरों ने खूँ से अपना इतिहास नया.	Us din taaron ne dekha tha Hindustaani vishwas naya Jab likha tha ranveeron ne Khoon se apna itihaas naya	That day the stars of the sky saw an Indian faith all new, when with their blood, the braves wrote India's history anew.

Partition

2006-08-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

Poet: W.H.Auden
(the poem tells of how Sir Cyril Radcliffe was sent to fix the borders of the new countries)

Unbiased at least he was when he arrived on his mission,
Having never set eyes on the land he was called to partition
Between two peoples fanatically at odds,
With their different diets and incompatible gods.
"Time," they had briefed him in London, "is short. It's too late
For mutual reconciliation or rational debate:
The only solution now lies in separation.
The Viceroy thinks, as you will see from his letter,
That the less you are seen in his company the better,
So we've arranged to provide you with other accommodation.
We can give you four judges, two Moslem and two Hindu,
To consult with, but the final decision must rest with you."

Shut up in a lonely mansion, with police night and day
Patrolling the gardens to keep the assassins away,
He got down to work, to the task of settling the fate
Of millions. The maps at his disposal were out of date
And the Census Returns almost certainly incorrect,
But there was no time to check them, no time to inspect
Contested areas. The weather was frightfully hot,
And a bout of dysentery kept him constantly on the trot,
But in seven weeks it was done, the frontiers decided,
A continent for better or worse divided.

The next day he sailed for England, where he could quickly forget
The case, as a good lawyer must. Return he would not,
Afraid, as he told his Club, that he might get shot.

If (Dacă / Yadi)

2006-07-12T11:43:00.000-07:00

Poet: Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master,
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Romanian version - În Limba Româna	Hindi version - हिन्दी में
Translation: Anonymous	Translation: the maVerick
Dacă te poti stăpâni, când norodul din jur se frământă, Brav înfruntând insolentul repros, cu liniste sfântă, Dacă-ti păstrezi, în virtute, credinta si-ncaleci sfiala, Când se îndoieste de tine multimea, si-ti ierti îndoiala Dacă astepti cu nădejde si nu te răpune-asteptarea, Dacă minciunii, stăpână pe lume, îi spulberi chemarea, Dacă asaltul mâniei te lasă senin, fără ură, Dacă păsesti peste dorul de-a fi cel dintâi, cu măsură	यदि कठिन परिस्थिति में धीरज मति खोये नहीं भले सब विवेक खोकर तुमको उत्तरदायी कहें यदि सबके संदेह से भी आत्मविश्वास सोये नहीं और फिर भी उनकी शंका को भी अनुयादी रहे यदि कर सको प्रतीक्षा, और प्रतीक्षा से थको नहीं यदि वंचे जाने पर भी असत्य से सम्बध्द न हो यदि कुछ से घ्रणित होकर भी घृणा किसी से करो नहीं किंतु दिखलाओ न स्वयं को गुणी, न चतुर वचन कहो
Dacă te leagănă visul, dar stărui stăpân peste vise, Dacă din gânduri mărete renunti să-ti faci teluri prezise, Dacă cuvântul, izvor de ispite si cruntul dezastru, Nu-s pentru tine oprelisti, nici vâsle in drumul spre astru Dacă suporti să auzi, despre spusele tale cinstite, Gânduri jelene, scornite de răi, pentru gloate smintite, Dacă din opera s-au ales doar ruine si spatii, Singur, cu scule stricate, de poti s-o refaci, din fundatii	यदि देख सको स्वप्न - स्वप्नों के दास न होकर यदि हो सको विचारशील - विचारों को लक्ष्य न मानकर यदि स्वीकारो विजय का चुम्बन व पराजय का ठोकर दोनों ही छलियों बहुरूपियों को एक सा जानकर यदि धैर्य से सुन सको अपने कहे सत्य को होता भ्रन्षित धूर्तों द्वारा, जैसे पाश सा मूर्खों के आखेट के या देख सको अपने जीवनभर के श्रमफल को होता खण्डित और झुककर पुनर्निर्माण करो अपने जीर्ण उपकरणों से
Dacă pierzând, într-o clipă de risc pe o sansă, avutul, Poti să începi, de la capăt, uitând în tăcere trecutul, Ferm adunând cu răbdare, întregul pe lungă durată, Fără să sufli o vorbă, de pierderea grea îndurată Dacă superb prin vointă fortezi, când îti vine sorocul, Inima, capul, tăria, să nu îsi astâmpere jocul Gol de puterea vietii, urmându-ti destinul spre tinte, Tare, cu vrerea din tine, ce-ti spune mereu înainte!	यदि अपने सम्पूर्ण अर्जन को एक स्थान पर एकत्र करो और दाँव पर लगा दो भाग्य के चंचल भाव पर कहीं और हारो, और पुनः प्रारम्भ से प्रारम्भ करो और एक शब्द भी उस हानि का जिव्हा से फूटे नहीं यदि कर सको विवश अपने ह्रदय, शिरा और धमनी को कि वो अक्षम निशक्त हो भी पालन करे जो तुम कहो और जुटे रहो तब भी कि जब तुममें शेष न हो श्वास भी उस एक जिजीविषा के अतिरिक्त जो कहे "जुटे रहो"
Dacă multimilor poti să vorbesti cu deprinderi egale, Dacă, constant, îti păstrezi modestia si-n cercuri regale, Dacă esti vulnerabil, la prieteni, la cei cu pornire, Dacă pe toti îi stimezi îndeajuns, însă nu peste fire Dacă momentul cumplit al prăpădului crâncen si mare Calm vei putea să-l asemeni, în timp, c-un minut oarecare, Lumea cu tot ce cuprinde va fi stăpânită de tine, Tu, peste toti vei răzbate : om al puterii depline!	यदि चल सको जनसमूह में, अपने गुण खोये बिना अथवा राजसी संगत में न भूलो सामान्य विनय यदि तुम्हें ठेस पहुँचा सके शत्रु न स्नेही घना सभी तुमको महत्व रखें, किंतु नहीं कोई अतिशय यदि भर सको एक निष्ठुर पल को साठ क्षणों सम दौडी दूरी से हर सत्र तुम्हारी होगी पृथ्वी और इसमें है जो और महती - बन चुके होगे पुरुष, मेरे पुत्र