Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Worthy Lessons Dr. C. Narayana Reddy

Translation
By
Dr Rajamouly Katta

Worthy Lessons
Dr. C. Narayana Reddy

If I move the pen
Letters do not flow
Unless we arrange thoughts
The cloud struggles a lot
There will not be showers.
If the raindrops have the will
For raining, they become showers.
Or they will be blown away by the wind.
Birds flying into the sky
Do not always move their wings.
Now and then they float
In the still manner.
That is their accustomed knack
The sea
With its mighty waves
That flow in their full rising
Shakes its hands with the shore
And goes back soon.
This is the principle followed by the sea
The air that is unseen
Offers life to others.
Broad-minded people never
Tell others openly about their help.
The tears seen are only tears.
But some glances
Tread the wrong paths.
The glance that sees straight
As an example, for righteousness.
If we see all objects of nature
Right from a piece of the cloud above
To a piece of soil on the ground
Are the lessons on selfless service
In the book of nature.

Source: Poem-16 ‘Pathaneeya Paathaalu’, from Vaakkuku Vayasu Leidu :
A Collection of Poems, Vareinya Creations, Hyderabad, P18-19

Published: Poetcrit 39.2 (July - December 2026):

Crazy Quest

 Crazy Quest
I flew like a bird
higher, still higher
thought, I had reached the highest.
To my dismay, found
there were numerous skies
higher, still higher...
I went deep into the earth
deeper, still deeper
thought, I had reached the centre.
To my dismay, found
there were numerous centres
deeper, still deeper...
I climbed the Mount
thought, I had reached the highest peak.
To my dismay, found
there were many more peaks
higher, still higher...
Is this crazy quest
in the nature of all beings
Or, the Creator’s mock-epic?

Published: Poetcrit 39.2 (July - December 2026)

Light and Dark

Light and Dark
A beam from nowhere
Darkness turned into light
Hope hopped so bright
His eyes drew them everywhere...
Stunned, dazed, dazzled
Enraptured by the vision
Their souls only half-open
Awakened, stirred, thrilled...
We shall choose light
Live our lives big and bright
Shed darkness, our traditional bane
Follow his aura, simple and plain...
Flashing, splashing, he sprang
Glitz and glitter, darkness he sang
Darkness our home, our robe
Darkness our goal in the globe...
Loud and lousy, he thundered
They howled at the skies, light shuddered
Demonic laughter utterly consumed
them into darkness, light bewildered...

Published: Poetcrit 39.2 (July - December 2026)