MERCY'S DREAM

Sweet little Mercy 

Sat by her dream

In a solitary place, under a solitary tree

Bemoaning  the hardness of  her little Heart

Stacking herself away from the ruthless world

The ruthless world where, some laugh; some scorn

Some just walk away ! 

Just then; above the dark shadows of her sorrow

There came brightness!

A brightness of a thousand suns filled with joy!

A presence of divine  beauty!  

A Beauty beyond the realm of  words!

With blemish-less wings,  reaching towards her

The One, descended to her side 

“Peace be to thee” Said He!

Wiping her tears, and soothing her heart

Cladding her in silver and gold

Putting a chain about her neck

 And ear-rings in her ears

 He placed the beautiful golden crown upon her humble head

And holding her, hand in hand, he led her

He led her, all the way to the Golden gate!

He too then knocked, and then He went in!

And Mercy followed too!

Followed him all the way through the golden gate!

To the place of ultimate glory; the throne of gold!

The Throne of gold, upon which the One sat!

And then, the One said to her

 “Welcome Daughter!.”  

And as he embraced her!

Brightness and joy! Glory and Love!

All within her heart and all around

Filled and overflowed!

And all of these, and all of her

All became One!

In this place of bliss and glory!

Among the stars and suns

Happiness and Love

Angels and saints

She saw clearly! And surely so!

The once striving pilgrim too!

A moment passed!

A moment lost in quizzical thought

And in another!   She laughed!

Laughed out loud!

And alas!  Her dream shattered!

 And alas! She was awake!

Awakened back into the solitary place of conditional existence

Awakened back into the hands of this ruthless world!

Tell me dear Mercy!

From this dream of heavenly bliss and glory

If only had you not laughed it away

Would you have still awakened back to this ruthless world?

THE WOLF OF GUBBIO

Vultures circled and flew high

The land seemed deserted

Leaf-less trees stood pointlessly still

High upon the rocks of a barren peak

Rising from the dark shadows

He snarled!

He howled!

His eyes were blood shot

In them, the Terror was red!

Shining in the silvery moon light!

His Ivory canines, craved for a kill!

Mortal fear clutched the soil

The gates of Gubbio rattled

Remnants of gut and bone

Mixed with the pungent smell of fear

Filled the cold winter air

No one dared to leave home

For anyone who dared

Never returned!

No one but, Saint Francis

Saint Francis of Assisi!

A man of the lord; a man of compassion

A man of word and deed!

Having been called upon  

Called upon by the people of Gubbio

Having been called upon in desperation

Saint Francis of Assisi

Prayed and contemplated!

Opened the creaky gates of Gubbio

Made a sign of the cross

And entered the fanged land of the wolf!

A sudden movement of the shadows!

A sudden appearance!

Growling to announce!

Crouching to pounce

Fire in his eyes!

Fangs exposed!

The Wolf of Gubbio!  

The man of Assisi turned

A gentle smile adorned his face

He reached out!              

Reached out to the yearning beast!

The wolf in return!

Snarled!

Looking into his fiery eyes of terror !

He saw his hidden fear

Through his aggressive demeanour

He saw the unhealed wounds of his past

Through his thirst for blood

He saw the whole of human nature

Deep within; as he looked

He saw his own loving heart!

He saw the churning of the whole universe

He saw the Almighty Lord himself!

As the sea of compassion grew and swelled within

He smiled again!

Made a sign of the cross

And thus he spoke!  

“Come brother wolf

I will not hurt you “

“I come here in good will “

“So let us talk in peace “

“Why is it dear brother?

That you attack humans? “

And as he spoke to the wildness of the wolf

He could see into the unseen depths of canine life!

Left to die, by his own pack!

Owing to injury

Little, poor, brother wolf

 Hunting to survive

Eating to sustain

Came up on us, the easy pray

He did not have choice!

Nor did he have ability!

 To overcome his instincts

Poor brother wolf!

He too strived to be free of suffering!

As the sun of understanding was now shining

The sea of compassion was full

The rain of love descended on the duo

The fire in the eyes of the wolf transformed into tears

As he experienced love for the first time

He found in this great man of Assisi

 Someone who could finally understand him!

His eyes once burning; were now placid pools of love

His once raised tail, dropped down!

And now wagged in serenity

His aggression within, transformed to affection

With love overflowing in both their hearts

Saint Francis of Assisi

And the canine of Gubbio

Embraced in loving peace!

And so in peace they promised!

Francis of Assisi

On behalf of Gubbio

Promised the wolf, food for life

And brother wolf in return

Promised peace and tranquillity!

As they walked back into the gates of Gubbio

To proclaim peace to one and all

Love from their hearts overflowed!

Overflowed and filled the warm evening

Embracing all in its path

Blurring with it, all lines of separation

The separation between wolf and saint!

Between Good and evil; between defiled and immaculate

There was no more wolf; no more saint

Glowing warmly within!

There is only Love!

CLEANSING MY TEMPLE

My heart is but Jerusalem!

And today!

Jesus!  The son of Man has entered it! 

Riding on the foal of a donkey! 

Waving Palm leaves for faith!

He enters my final destination! 

Hosanna be to him!

But his temple; my once humble soul!

Is sadly, now just a market place! 

Greed, desire and filth

Anger, envy and hate

Freely trade with hedonic passion! 

 A den of robbers it has become! 

Oh Lord! You have entered my heart

You have blessed me with your presence! 

Now cleanse this temple too!

Chase away my vices

Whip away my passions

Make my soul, a house of your prayer again!

Fill me with your divine Love!

Oh Lord of lords! King of the universe!

Hosanna be to You!

ROOSTER'S CROW

Peter didn't you know

The rooster will crow! 

Not once; not twice

 To err! But thrice!

Peter didn't you realize

This day will come!

Knowing your weakness

Shouldn't you have been more mindful?

The Gracious lord may have forgiven you

But!  Oh Peter the Apostle!

Can you ever forgive yourself!

SUNDAY SALVATION

Rushing on a Sunday morning

Flaunting and flashing; Wealth and well being

Cursing the passersby for coming in your way

Angry about being late

And anxious about missing the sermon

Driving recklessly, even as you hear the church bells ring

Tell me dear friend!

What salvation are you rushing for?

Mindlessly rushing for just another Sunday service

Pompously kneeling; mechanically praying

Asking for token forgiveness, for your willful sins

Yet proudly clinging to the vices of greed hate and delusion

Tell me dear friend!

How long after the merry service, does the feeling of guilt free goodness last?

For, beyond the confines of, space, time and the pulpit

Unrestricted by institution, or constitution

Beyond the tainted glass of ideas and belief

There lies the infinite world of truth and understanding

And, once you kneel in earnest prayer, and shed your tainted coat of identity

You too friend, Will understand! You too friend will see!

God is love, and compassion is his only son

And the whole creation his holy spirit

Salvation is here and heaven is now

And selflessness is the only path

Even as the church bells ring on another Sunday morning!

Here and now! Forever rings the eternal bell of salvation!

SINFUL FEET

Washing sinful feet on this penultimate day!

Oh Lord! How great thou art!

Washing the feet of your fellow men!

Only The Son of Man can do!

With Love and compassion you do shine

As you washed away their grit and grime

You did know, who would go for silver

You did know, for whom the rooster will crow

You also knew, who all would walk away

Yet you washed them all equally! Full of   boundless love!

Oh Lord Almighty! Washing the feet of your fellow men

Washing away their sins they are yet to commit!

Let me humbly learn, from your everlasting love!

WITHERING GRASS

How useless I am, thought the yellowing blades of grass!

Abundant in form and fully grown!

Yet, I do not bear any tasty fruit

My seeds are gritty, and not fit to eat

Oh how worthless I am as a crop!

 Growing without being tended to; but trampled upon by every feet!

Today, I am left with only some aging greenery!

But tomorrow, that too shall wither away!

And once I dry, I’m but a useless stack of hay!

Worthy of only feeding the mules!

So fretted and thought the aging grass!

Before it became the holy hay on which baby Jesus was born!

So friend! Don’t you worry when you wither today!

For the petals of God’s plan will soon blossom before you! 

FALL FROM EDEN

From joyful fountains of Eden

I have fallen into this hell hole of today

Oh, what venomous fruit did I bite?

Innocent I was in love and life

What wrong footed twist of fate

Has led me to this serpentine misery!

With tied up hands I yearn to swim                   

While this whirlpool of my mind churns me  

Oh what divine hand shall reach out to me?

Reach out, and raise me from the dead!

                                                                                               

A SINNER'S PRAYER

Oh lord Merciful and Loving!

Savior of sinners like me!

Blessed is your glory and benevolence!

With sinful hands I have come to you

With sinful hands I surrender

Oh mighty father of forgiveness!

I prostrate before you, in guilt and shame!

As I finally surrender to your heavenly will

Please forgive and accept my humble repentance

I have stumbled again, though you have always guided me

I have strayed away, even when you showed me your way

 Yet your love for me has never changed

Oh lord! So merciful and Loving!

Show me the light of your will

Oh Lord! Creator of all that is created

As I surrender myself at your feet

Fill me with your Holy Spirit!

Fill me with your everlasting grace!

EASTER MORN

Oh rising sun of the Easter morn

Did you know, on this very day?

The son of man has risen before you!

For your sins and mine, he was nailed

But he blesseth us with resurrection

For your vices and ill will, he bore the cross

Yet he cleaneth our souls with love

No earthly tomb could seal his heavenly fate

As he rose from the very dead!

On this very day! Before the rising of the morning sun

The son of man has risen before you!

The son of man has risen,  to set your sinful soul free! 

HOLY FRIDAY

The same voices that sung hosanna, mobbed up for his crucifixion!

The same hands that waved the palms, nailed him to the dreadful cross!

The same eyes wept, as he took his last breath!

 And the same hearts rejoiced on his resurrection!

The same hands still sin every day!

As the same hearts prays to him, for forgiveness!

Oh Lamb of God, bless me on this Holy Friday!           

Cleanse my divided soul with the wisdom of your love!

Dissolve my hypocritical existence!

Overwhelm my pointless ego, with your divine spirit

Oh savior of the soul! Light of the world!

Fill me with your everlasting Love !

PALM LEAVES FOR THE PRINCE

Hosanna! The joyful palm leaves greet and sway!

For the Prince of peace hath come!

Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!

For, blessed be he, that cometh in the name of the lord!

Blessed be he, who hath entered Jerusalem!

So sing with musical hearts of glory!

As you carry the green banners of triumph!

With peace he hath brought us victory

And with Love, he hath conquered it all!

Hosanna in the highest!  As he entereth the gates Jerusalem!

Hosanna in the highest! As he finally entereth my soul! 

SHEPHERD OF MY SOUL

To green pastures and clear waters, from time unknown, you have lead me!

You trusted me, when I deserted you for other pastures

You fed me, when the grass was dry, and the sky was overcast

You protected me, when the wolves of suffering surrounded me

And welcomed me back with open arms, when I wandered away

Yet, in this lonely pasture of today, I yearn for your missing staff

Oh shepherd of my soul!  My only benevolent redeemer!

Lead me to me to your very home! 

THE NAIL ON THE CROSS

Oh rusty nail on the cross; the one that bore his heavenly weight

Did you ever know what you have done?

Did you ever wonder why it was you?

You were mined and smelted, and molded for him

Yet when the day came, there was none closer to his flesh than you!

                                                                                         

Did you not still, cling to the worldly wood of the cross; as he writhed in pain!

Did you not still, rip his loving wrist, as he bled and prayed for the world in vain!

Yet he forgave you, as he forgave the rest of the world

And when he has transcended from this worldly cross to the heavens above

Stained in his holy blood; why do you still rust away!!