People! ! Poem by Shankaran Kutty

The honeybee danced with joy in each wing
Red, blue and pink flowers had bloomed that spring
Pulled down by fever, in my bed I lay
Watching the flowers, in the breeze, sway.

And then in that garden in a corner there stood
Trying to show off its beauty as it could
A dainty little rose, dazzling white
Welcoming its guests with its colour so bright

From my window it stood in my line of sight
The thorny bush was of medium height
At its simple beauty I gazed in awe
With my white little Rose, I fell in love.

Then I found she had visitors many
To drink its sweet nectar, leftover if any
From the humming bird drinking mid-flight
To the butterflies with colours so bright

The bees, they came with a distinct buzz
Drank the nectar and left without a fuss
A caterpillar crawled on its leaves so green
And a host of others came and left unseen

Like Hygeia’s touch the sights of spring
A cure to my illness, it seemed to bring
With no phone, no friends, no one to intrude
My thoughts took wings in that solitude

Aren’t our lives like that dainty white rose
With visitors each day, some nice some morose
Some haunt our dreams, some trouble when awake
Some have hearts so pure, some are fake

Some like the bee, will a happy song sing
While leaving, hurt with a painful sting
But forgive them, thinking of their daily need
The thousands at home, they have to feed.

Isn’t it the same with life’s many hurts
In the middle of our love and anger spurts
We never forget the stings of power and money
But erase forever, the sweet gifts of honey

Some visitors in life are like the butterfly
In their brightness and cheer does true friendship lie
In their colourful world we should bury our sorrow
Enjoy today, don’t worry over tomorrow

Some in life are like the caterpillar green
To devour your host, might seems too mean
Even in them, trust me, you should find
Goodness somewhere, and continue to be kind

For when the day dawns tomorrow, clear
Your decision, you will realize, has been right my dear
From that ugly worm which evoked hate and fright
Has emerged a butterfly, beautiful and bright

Some people in life are the also ran
Let them pass by, without hurting you can
But of goodness in them, if you see a spark
Imbibe it in you, let it leave its mark

So it is in life, as in that flower
Be it your best friend, or long time lover
Let them ne nice, or evil or good
Of that you shall not for a moment brood

Just give them your fragrance, that they do seek
It will make you only stronger, never meek
Your ego might hurt, the heart will pain
And question you with “For what gain”

But no one an angel, no one a devil
No complete good, none filled with evil
Even in the worst of a man, who no good does render
You will find some good, some emotions tender

To their vilest feelings, never set fire
Search instead in the loneliest mire
And in the deepest slush find a lotus bloom
Let that ethereal joy, wipe away all gloom

From the unknown depths of ocean that has been
That has never seen a ray of sun, serene
In those dark depths of the deep blue sea
Hidden in the oyster, a pearl you would see.

Then your promise in life shall be
Remove all hate, only love would we
What goodness we can, we will happily give
In unity with all, our lives we will live

Be it your brother, sister or wife
Or a passer-by in your day-to-day life
Give unconditional love, no thought of what
That person for you does feel in his heart

Then like that flower, in my garden, white
Or like stars twinkling on a new moon night
With joy and love, you will fill your heart
And become one with HIM, never ever to part