Ode On Old Virtues - Ii Poem by Aniruddha Pathak
Ode On Old Virtues - Ii
Let me not play tuneless in today's time,
Some purists sure get praised as Gandhian,
Yet, crass nevertheless is no more crime,
Old values are hailed may be in heaven.
Whilst weighing values for the weathered time,
Let's mull on old saying: Thou shouldst secure
Safe income ere vouchsafing virtues pure;
So, wisdom weighs more than values' old chime.
At few places virtue may be chief good.
Some go for health, power, or reach for riches,
Or honours, a touch of pleasure pleases,
Heart has no heart in virtues, head wears hood.
Confucius with a list of values came
When values valued were at very core,
Many did talk of this out-of-fame dame,
But they managed to confuse all the more.
Holy cows when at a premium are sold,
Poor virtue as a species goes nigh rare,
In a world that today wallows in gold,
Old values get wiped out by this black mare!
A quiet virtue may conquer world's good,
Yet, virtue's prayers in silence are said
Nowhere are heard just as Lao-tse laid;
And clueless, confused I retire to brood.
Near home, digging unto our ancient text—
Mahabharata, a huge storehouse of lore,
And in today's times knee deep in context—
The epic failed to define virtue's core.
Yet, there seems but one thing to me nigh clear:
Virtue and vice, all else on death when fails,
This twain alone survives the soul when sails,
So let me virtues cheer and vices fear!
Or in today's times going in top gear,
I should my virtues fear, my vices cheer!
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This is second of the two-part series.
Comments about Ode on Old Virtues by Aniruddha Pathak
• Drtony Brahmin(3/28/2019 4: 11: 00 AM)
Flavours are felt all across fields sans guilt:
Be it movies, business, brands, even books,
Money's the recipe.. facts and truths again.... presented so well...
Virtue or vice, all else on death when fails,
This twain alone survives the soul when sails, thank u for your wisdom which you are always conveying to us ur fellow poets. thank u again dear Aniruddha. tony (Report) Reply
Aniruddha Pathak(3/29/2019 12: 47: 00 AM)
Thank you Dr Antony Brahmin for the feedback. But one thing: The wisdom might well be second hand, how I put it across perhaps is what matters. What do you think about it?
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Ode | 08.08.12 |
Topic: culture, virtues, values
A quiet virtue may conquer world's good. A high culture is always admired. An interesting poem is beautifully penned and selected as the poem of the day. Thank you very much for sharing this.10
Thanks for the rating Kumarmaniji, your feedback is always valued.
A great poem on values, virtues and culture! Many congratulations to you dear sir for this brilliant ode of yours being featured on the home page as poem of the day!
Yet, there seems but one thing to me nigh clear: Virtue and vice.... alone survives the soul.... //.... Exquisitely created marvel of a poetry with a fine commentary on the present times as well as values and a philosophical stand point through the eyes of an old timer/ war (of life) veteran. Thanks & Congratulations.
A beautifully crafted and well presented poem Imbued with wisdom. Congratulations again for having this poem selected for the second time as Poem Of The Day!
A profound compilation of the nuggets of wisdom applicable in prevailing situation in respect of the weightage to the old virtues in theory and practice. Heartiest congrats on poem of the day for this 5 star verse. Regards.
The use of alliteration, of rhyme, and tone, makes this poem a wonderful reading experience; not to forget the wisdom, which teaches us the sacred knowledge of the world. A great poem.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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1/14/2025 9:28:14 AM # 1.0.0
We used to think slavery was a virtue and that crucifixion was just and that killing someone because they were different to you. So what are these virtues the same as they always have been respect your fellow man/woman and be kind, do not steal, murder or be unjust do not commit adultery or judge your fellow man but above all love everyone. Those virtues have not changed
You have a point of your own, dear poet. To some certainly, certain values are not changed. A poet writes with his own perspective, he presents his expression of heart, rational thinking produces no poetry, yet, certain things have indeed changed. and that is the subject matter of this poem. Thanks for visiting and commenting,