Life’s Paradoxes
I drove my car as per ‘Road-Rules’,
A drunken cab hit mine head-on;
He escaped with some flimsy wounds
I lay in throes of death uncared!
I gave up smoking once for all,
And yet, I got lung cancer fast;
Another smoked until his death,
Remaining healthy, till the last.
My life was straight and honest but
In poverty, I stayed throughout;
The liars, cheaters all turned rich,
While I lay tortured, by my strife.
I studied hard and got a job;
I could not make both ends meet still;
The ‘Happy-Go-Lucky’ person,
Made millions although, he was ill!
I reared my children with great love;
They started earning such big sums;
They selfishly built their own homes;
They didn’t take care of aged parents!
A sinner lives a mansion-life;
A saintly man is pauper still;
Is Maker fair in His dealings?
I ask when frustration fills me.
Such things are found in earthly life;
The righteous must be undeterred;
All things in life are transient;
God rewards upright in Heaven!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 6-7-2008
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Professional Discontent
Some chose the farm but gave it up with ease,
As it didn't yield the fruits of labour hard,
When changes came in sun, rain, soil and wind,
And nature's furies ruined what escaped!
Some chose a profession, bit white-collared,
And fleeced their clients, customers, patients,
Earning huge sums in easy ways for long,
But gave it through dissatisfaction!
Some chose to be a man, woman of God,
And bounties poured in abundance by grace,
Turned mercenary from missionary,
And left the fold from Shepherd as plain sheep!
No one seems content with one's profession!
No one is satisfied with divine gifts;
No one lives as per Scriptural guidance;
All want to live their earthly life with ease!
Does man really pine to see God's face?
Do men prefer the after-life o'er life?
Even the pious are victims of greed!
Man's troubles escalate when God's forgot!
It matters not what profession you choose!
You got to be dedicated, righteous;
And God rewards each one equally well!
Earthly inequality is man-wrought!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 3-11-12
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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My Eightieth Birthday, Today!
Eighty years have gone away,
In a somewhat pleasant way;
God is Master, then, today,
And will be mine, come what may!
As a teacher, life was good;
Life was great in womanhood!
Life was best when in childhood;
Happy I'm, upright I stood!
Duty was my prime dear thing;
God was first in everything;
Joys and woes both, life did bring;
Yet, a happy song, I sing!
Earning wealth was not my aim;
Sharing knowledge brought me fame;
Being wife was just one game;
Dust was whence I truly came!
Kith and kin do always kiss;
Still some things did go amiss;
Husband is one soul, I miss;
Life was mostly joys and bliss!
I had not done something great;
I did just all do, till date;
I didn't trust in luck or fate;
I want heaven's narrow gate!
‘All seems well, ' I'm eighty aged;
Heart feels sometimes, old and caged;
Many battles I had waged;
Life didn't happen as I gauged!
God was friend to me these years;
I have hope in Him, not fears;
Though my earthly life now nears,
I must pray, until He hears!
Fondly dedicated to dear
Mrs.P. Irudaya Mary MA., B.Ed, Teacher
Holy Family Church, Perundurai
By Dr. Celestine, wife Mrs. Mercy,
daughters Catherine & Christina
Copyright by Dr John Celes 12-08-12
poem by John Celes
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Good Friendship
In friendship lies, life’s beauty prime –
A bond that stands the test of time,
And withstands every change of clime.
Good friendship makes life worth living;
Than taking, life is in giving –
The crux of friendship, worth telling!
Our earthly life would be a bore,
Without good friendship at its core:
That takes each person to the fore!
Though parents care for their children,
And relatives for kith and kin,
Yet, friends usher on earth, heaven!
Happy the ones, who have good friends!
Their worries in life, almost ends:
In need, good friend always attends.
And without friends, life could be sad,
And make all events, pretty bad,
And turn some persons, almost mad!
Good friends are rarely found in life,
And help you timely in your strife –
Some turning husband or your wife!
Nurture good friendship if you can;
Essential are friends good, man:
Those add spice to your earth’s life-span.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 5-28-2008
poem by John Celes
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Sonnet: In Earthly Life
Most things we do in life appear in vain;
Most decisions we take seem incorrect;
Attempts we make in worldly life are bane:
Sad plight of Homo sapiens who’s erect!
We must not measure labor with money;
We can’t return our parents’ love in life;
We cannot gauge Bees’ toil that makes honey;
God compensates our efforts ’midst our strife.
The love of man for God is not so deep;
The love of God which made us is so great;
His code of conduct, every man must keep;
God helps us always to improve our fate.
Sometimes, our earthly life seems like a drill;
Nevertheless, we ought to do God’s will!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 3-21-2008
poem by John Celes
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How Blessed Am I
How blessed am I for being born
Of parents good and God-fearing!
How blessed am I for siblings nine
Who made my childhood truly great!
How blessed am I for being made
Handsome and healthy, fair and hale!
How blessed am I for gaining ken
And virtues, wisdom, fortitude!
How blessed am I for being reared
So well by parents dutiful!
How blessed am I for achievements
Quite praiseworthy in life on earth!
How blessed am I for having fared
So well in life in every field!
How blessed am I for talents, gifts
That most men cannot dream to have!
How blessed am I for miracles
That gave my life a newer lease!
How blessed am I for finding time
To thank and praise the Almighty!
How blessed am I for grace of God
That goads me on in heaven’s road!
How blessed am I for everything
God gave me amply in His time!
How blessed am I for love of God
That chose me to be Christian!
How blessed am I for hope and faith
That help me follow Jesus’ steps!
How blessed am I for poesy
That made my life stress-free, worthwhile!
How blessed am I for God’s with me
And I’m with Him in earthly life!
poem by John Celes
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Sonnet: Most Earthly Things Don't Last For Long!
There are some things we wished to have in life;
We tried our level-best to get them fast,
Despite our poverty, trials and strife;
But once acquired, they turned things of past!
There are some more, we could not get at all,
Despite our many struggles to procure;
But then, they turned like autumn leaves that fall;
And left us just the anguish to endure!
Nevertheless, all earthly things don't last;
Our soul carries the good and bad, we do;
Our evil done stealthily looks aghast;
The good we did becomes scarce, almost few!
All things of earth return to dust some day!
The state of soul decides after-life's way!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 25-06-12
poem by John Celes
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Sonnet: Death Will Come
God breathed life into dust to make each man,
And gave him soul to realize His love;
And made each, uniquely, both man, woman:
And keep soul sin-free, and one’s love to prove.
All earthlings must perish some day on earth,
And leave behind all earthly things, we got;
A great blessing indeed is every birth;
There is no thing we call as our sheer lot!
Are we prepared to embrace death that day?
It comes thief-like to cut the thread of life;
How many can to death then bravely say,
‘I’m ready for your cruel, ruthless knife! ’
All earthlings die to turn again to clay,
Releasing soul for God’s Last Judgment Day!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 3-11-2008
poem by John Celes
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Sonnet: God Doesn’t Forsake Us
Some allergens just cut us down to size;
Some life’s problems can pin us down to earth;
Some follies made can make us rather wise;
Some sins we do are curses right from birth!
Life gives us strife in addition from God;
The devils too can make our burden more;
Nevertheless, we shouldn’t take them as rod;
God opens us always a newer door!
Life’s tests, trials, tribulations long last;
We ought to have a heart undaunted, so;
We shouldn’t be undermined by sins of past;
On earth, the evil One’s our only foe!
All things in earthly life are transient;
Just have in you, the God, omniscient.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 3-24-2008
poem by John Celes
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Sonnet: My Poetry
When foul an air, I’d breathed since my childhood,
When water lost its taste over the years,
When Righteous men too gave in to falsehood,
And worldly things turned bad for eyes and ears!
When hunger drove me mad until manhood,
When opportunities right never came,
When dangers lurked in every neighborhood,
And talents couldn’t win love of ev’n one dame!
When temptations made man sin all through life,
When poverty denied the little chance,
When laugh I had to ’midst my daily strife,
And unfair tunes in life forced me to dance!
When Time’s lessons made heart and mind more numb,
From frustration, my Poetry did come!
6-17-2001
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sonnet: God’s Special Love
The love of God had given us our form
Wholesome and perfect, while in mother’s womb;
The environs then tried to us deform:
Some ending without being born in tomb!
The love of God had given parents good,
Who reared us with great care to adulthood;
And taught us basic things we need in life,
And how to toil and overcome our strife.
The love of God had given us life-span-
Our precious time on earth to work for Him;
The Hand of God protected each human,
From foes, travail and when life became grim.
God’s special love chose us before our birth,
For being born, human being on earth.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 3-2-2008
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Pro-life…
I thank my mother,
Who brought me forth
Into the world,
God made, so bold.
And my dear father,
For doing his worth,
To raise me up,
With love-filled cup.
I admire them
For such strong faith,
And duty-minds -
Both rare are finds.
I was their child eighth,
Of ten children!
God blessed them well;
Their work was swell.
But had they stopped with
Just one or two,
Like how some did:
Oh, God forbid!
What lovely parents
They turned to be,
And lived all life,
Despite much strife
If not for them both
What would I be?
-An abortus
Or dead fetus!
The love of Maker,
Good parents give
To children all,
When they are small
Such children bring them
Blessings from God,
And intense mirth,
Right here on earth.
I thank you parents;
I thank you God,
For gift of birth,
And lovely earth.
Just think of parents
Who do abort,
Against God’s will,
By their weak will.
Their life will be filled
With emptiness;
Their guilt and sins
Makes life non-sense.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 1-28-2008
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Fathers’ Day,2008
The Fathers’ Day goes well forgot;
The Mothers’ Day is soon forgot;
A mother is a need in life;
A father is a must in strife!
Dad tills the land and sows the seed,
And pushes hoe like bulls indeed;
And when his forehead sweat strikes earth,
The seedling sprouts to give us mirth.
Dad works to earn the sums to pay
All bills; and joyfully goes day;
Dad works on week-ends to earn more,
And keeps all happy, sans eye-sore!
The love of dad is so unique;
Without it, children go so sick;
Remember dad on this great day,
And greet him heartily en way!
Without your mom, life could be sad!
Without your dad, you could go mad!
‘Happy Fathers’ Day,2008! ’
Copyright by Dr John Celes 6-15-2008
poem by John Celes
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Life is Too Precious to Lose
Our life on earth is most precious –
A gift of God to all earthlings;
A token of God’s love for us –
And man must live akin to kings!
The life-giver alone has right
To take away the life from us;
Will anyone with good eye-sight
Destroy it on some lame excuse?
The God of life, the living God
Loves each of us with love equal;
He’s kind and gives a just, fair rod,
And made hell for hearts of evil.
While doctors try to save man’s life,
Some try to take away one’s own,
On flimsy reasons with a knife/
By ingesting drugs called poisons.
Some try to hang oneself to death;
They feel that life has turned worthless;
They find, ‘all is not well on earth, ’
And try to end their life priceless!
What foolish act is suicide
Or attempting to take one’s life!
In haste most try to thus decide –
’Midst youngsters, this is turning rife!
And ragging is a cause sometimes
A fresher uses to end life;
And loneliness, old-age at times,
Excess suffering and undue strife!
Whatever be the cause behind,
The act is done in hurried way;
Some plan it very well in mind,
And even choose the hour and day!
To cut the thread of earthly life –
Just fools and weak-willed persons do;
Some cannot face penury, strife,
Life’s challenges, just trifles too!
And some escape from their rash act,
And thank the stars for sparing life;
And vow never to fast react
Again in life, despite much strife.
No doubt, our earthly life has woes;
And some may not manage their grief;
To some, life’s song too sadly goes;
Some end their life for pain’s relief!
Some try to immolate and die;
Some live disfigured, looking weird;
Some escape although death was nigh,
And live by Bible’s every word!
’Tis sad to hear of one’s demise;
The family is shattered fast;
Suicide is a thing unwise,
That puts someone into the past!
The Creator can’t bear to see
Life gone away prematurely;
Even the stars might cry freely
When man attempts to die early!
Our earthly life is quite worthy,
Despite all strife that comes, may be;
The caring God will help surely
To live, a wholesome life truly!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 02-17-2009
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Our Ephemeral Life on Earth
Like how the heavens open bringing rain,
God’s blessings will too shower, once again,
In His own time and in His divine ways,
And make our life on earth happier in pace!
A little strife can make our face sullen;
A little suffering can life, dullen;
A little wait is all God wants of us;
A little patience brings us endless bliss!
Why should we fret and fume and cry in haste?
Why should we call our life a total waste?
All things on earth are transient in type;
Our joys in life bestow on us some hype.
This earth and heaven shall all pass away,
And come will Jesus Christ on Judgment Day;
A new heaven and earth, He will usher,
Rewarding righteous souls in great measure.
Why don’t we praise the Lord in times of strife?
Why shouldn’t we thank Him for our unique life?
Why do we grumble, mumble, murmur then?
Our life on earth is meant to gain heaven!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 8-31-2007
poem by John Celes
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The Living Loving God
Who put the boulder on the mountain top?
Who seeds the shrubs to grow on hilly sides?
Who brings the water gushing from the rocks?
Who paints the rainbow on the rainy sky?
It is the awesome God, our Creator!
The incredible perfect One Master!
Both birds and insects learn their flight from Him;
He fills the righteous vessels up to brim!
The Master sculptor, painter and Maker!
Upon His toy, He breathed life into man!
He only knows each person's true life-span;
He makes a pauper, king, and vice-versa!
He housed the snail within its own shell-home!
He gives the worst sinner, heaven's welcome;
He speaks to flora, fauna that look dumb;
He bestows all His creatures with aplomb!
O glorious God! Why can't all men know You?
Most magnificent are all things You do!
Only the fool cannot have faith in God -
The universe's only King and Lord!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 28-06-12
poem by John Celes
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Sonnet: Soul’s Gracile Feed
In life, I’ve met some persons who had played
Their earthly roles superbly well, I say;
Despite the world imperfect, they displayed
Exemplary standards by any day!
In life, I’ve met some, who’d frittered their lives,
Amassing wealth in easy ways but then,
They vanished soon like bees leaving their hives,
Without ev’r realizing God within!
In life, I’ve met a few human beings,
Who spent their time in service unto God,
Ignoring strife that hound many earthlings,
And brethren said, ‘Are not they looking odd? ’
Our earthly life is transient indeed;
Our duty prime is our soul’s gracile-feed!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 1-9-2008
poem by John Celes
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Sonnet: Like Father, so Son
A father loves that son, who most obeys,
And maintains sense of values in his life,
And tends to parents when old, in last days,
With faith in God, unswerving, amidst strife.
A son loves father who is role-model,
And lives an exemplary life on earth,
Good-principled, undaunted, healthy, well,
And loves the son, whole-heartedly from birth.
With time, the son must equal father’s feats,
Surpassing him in fields where possible;
The father’s happy when son, glory meets,
And does great things which were impossible.
Like father, so will son then tend to be-
A truth the world will almost, always see.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 3-3-2008
poem by John Celes
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On Mother's Second Death Anniversary
Two years have passed away
Since you left us mother dear;
We can't forget that fateful day
Before which you were so near!
We know we lost a priceless gem
Whose value we didn't know then;
Our mum was fit for a diadem;
We're sure, she must be in heaven!
What love she gave us all children!
How well she reared us everyone!
She showed us each ‘road to heaven';
Her earthly duty was well done!
We miss you mother very much;
You were a role-model to us;
Your cooking had a magic touch;
You brought us up in happiness!
The world without you is empty;
A wise lady has left us all;
Your life on earth was so pretty,
Until you heard God's divine call!
Oh, how we wish we meet again -
A soul that radiated love;
Oh, how you talked to all so sane,
And yet, kept yourself like a dove!
O mother dear, we will all meet
Some day in heaven very soon;
With joy, we will forever greet
And with dad see the sun and moon!
Fondly dedicated to our most loving mom,
Mrs. Stella Thangamarie Antoniswami
On her II death anniversary 27-04-2012
‘May God grant her a place in heaven soon! '
Copyright by Dr John Celes 23-04-2012
poem by John Celes
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All Things Are Simply Possible, Just By God's Saving Grace!
I aimed to accomplish one thing,
But turned to be yet another;
I thought I was unfit in life,
But God brought me out of all strife.
All things are simply possible,
Just by God's saving grace!
I travelled by a road I chose;
It led me to an alien place;
I thought I had a blunder done;
God gave me timely rain and sun!
All things are simply possible,
Just by God's saving grace!
I felt awful and depressed oft,
And life had turned quite meaningless;
To God, I cried in despair, ‘Lord! '
My strength returned reading His Word!
All things are simply possible,
Just by God's saving grace!
I saw the modern world of man,
Afilled by sin and wickedness;
I felt like asking God, ‘But why? '
Hope filled my heart anew from sky!
All things are simply possible,
Just by God's saving grace!
I found all earthly life futile,
And wished from heart to earlier die!
But God renewed my spirits high,
And made my earthly stay worthwhile!
All things are simply possible,
But by God's saving grace!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 17=11-2012
poem by John Celes
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Sonnet: Our Earthly Life is Ephemeral!
Remember man, this earthly life will fade;
All glory gained will also vanish fast;
Just think about God’s love that had us made;
Our achievements will become things of past.
Money cannot give us joys permanent;
Our labor needs God’s blessings all the time;
God’s earth is where we live as His tenant;
We need His grace for success in bad clime.
We needn’t worry about our earthy needs;
The soul needs utmost care right from our birth;
Good soil alone can sprout good trees from seeds;
Our aim must be to reach heavenly mirth.
Let mist of sins not block heavenly gaze;
Let’s live a righteous life, with Maker’s grace.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 08-27-2008
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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