Sonnet: Blessed Are The Poor On Earth
Let discontented men, learn from the poor,
Who smile despite the anguish in their hearts;
Hard-working all their lives for bread, succor;
Yet, struggling always to improve their lots.
No job is mean but honesty matters;
The vagaries of life tease them so much;
And scarcely clothed, that too in such tatters,
They wait with patience for God's magic touch.
Yet, all the while, their faces wear big smiles;
Their hearts are moved by beggar's cries for alms;
Barefoot in Rain or Sun, they walk the miles;
Their hearts are soft but roughened are their palms.
The Gates of Heaven are open to them;
Their poverty becomes their diadem.
6-14-2002 by Dr John Celes
poem by John Celes
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Related quotes
Sonnet -Blessed are the Poor on Earth
Let discontented men, learn from the poor,
Who smile despite the anguish in their hearts;
Hard-working all their lives for bread, succor;
Yet, struggling always to improve their lots.
No job is mean but honesty matters;
The vagaries of life tease them so much;
And scarcely clothed, that too in such tatters;
They wait with patience for God's magic touch.
Yet, all the while, their faces wear big smiles;
Their hearts are moved by beggar's cries for alms;
Barefoot in Rain or Sun, they walk the miles;
Their hearts are soft but roughened are their palms.
The Gates of Heaven are open to them;
Their poverty becomes their diadem.
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sonnet: The Earth is Large
There is land aplenty, where men cannot live!
Ice-covered, swampy, desert, infested;
There’s land so vast which you can people give;
But who is actually interested?
That is water lots that can be shared by states;
Yet, selfishness prevents this sacrifice;
There’s water lots that doesn’t get past sluice-gates!
To quench the thirst of others or grow rice.
There are much things you can give your brethren,
And help him meet his basic needs of life;
The world has still diseased, ill-clad children,
Nations below poverty-line ’midst strife.
Who said the Earth can’t shelter/ feed more men?
Men’s hearts must change to make the Earth Heaven.
5-20-2002 by Dr John Celes
poem by John Celes
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Sonnet- The World Today(4)
Behold a beggar playing sad a tune!
By heart, on his own poor, old harmonium;
Though blind, he seems to be in God’s commune;
Alas! is this the new millennium?
Behold a lady working by hand-loom;
A widow poor, she has a female child!
Victim of consumption that spread to womb;
That turns all hearts of sympathy so wild.
Behold the handicapped who jobs the lathe!
With fore-limbs lost by accident, the smiles;
’Tis hard and dangerous; his sweat does bathe;
In dignity he lives and walks home miles.
And lo, the whole some man in car complains,
And curses all while driving drunk through lanes!
poem by John Celes
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The Next Great World War!
the next great world war
is already being fought...
within... within the hearts
of the poor of all nations,
struggling to survive,
for food and shelter.
in the hearts of the jobless,
the homeless, the sick.
in the hearts of prisoners,
of victims...
in the hearts of the takers,
the movers, the ones that make
the decisions, that hold
the key and the whip.
in the hearts of soldiers,
of politicians, of the innocents
killed by the bombing.
in the hearts of seekers,
of the lonely, the desperate.
in the hearts of the angry,
of the haters...
of priests, preachers, and moral guides.
in the hearts of the common,
in the hearts of the gifted,
in the hearts of the protesters,
and the cops that beat them.
in the hearts of all people everywhere,
crying out for change in spite of...
the war rages...
and who will stand
when the day is done?
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Poet Valentine’s Day,2009
God made a day for all to express love;
The young and old, friends, lovers use this day;
Renewing promises to each other,
They have a lovely time that day this way!
Their shattered lives get invigorated;
Their broken dreams become alive again;
Their misunderstandings get cleared some way;
Their hearts and minds are drenched in true love’s rain!
And no one knows how time can fleet this day;
Love reigns supreme in hearts across the world;
And time stands still and yet keeps ticking fast;
And many dance to tunes of love untold!
Oh, what a lovely day to enjoy then!
Smiling faces, laughter, sweet talks abound;
The earth appears as though it is heaven!
Yet, some revel trying to lovers hound!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 2-10-2009
poem by John Celes
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Sonnet: The Magic of Poverty
A birth in poverty is luck supreme!
A death in poverty, a great blessing;
A life of poverty is rare a dream;
Achievements great, stark poverty can bring.
’Tis poverty that goads nations do feats;
’Tis poverty that stimulates scientists;
In everything, poverty, wealth just beats;
The greatest men were in poverty’s lists.
And poverty lessens our worries much;
Account to God will be much easier;
Poverty gives the saint a divine touch;
In poverty, poets can fly higher!
Poverty helps to shun worldly pleasures;
A soul in poverty, Heaven allures.
9-14-2002
poem by John Celes
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Have a Heart for Children, Poor!
In poverty born, bred, they live
In misery and future bleak,
All famished, ravished and ill-clad –
Most children of the modern world!
Their parents have to slog all day;
They can’t afford a single meal;
They cannot go to school but stay
As rag-pickers all life and earn.
What folly have their parents done?
The poor are unlucky always;
Their future is like broken glass,
That cannot be together put!
In mud-walled huts and roofs of leaves,
With longing eyes that beg for food,
Half-naked children wait to hear
The foot-steps of their parents come.
With weathered faces, unkempt hair,
With innocence without compare,
With mal-odor that fills the air –
How much of sorrow can they bear?
Their eyes appear to speak and plead
To anyone who passes by,
‘Have mercy on us, poor children;
We smile despite our hunger-pangs! ’
Their eyes look muddy, lack-lustre;
Their anguished hearts, enfeebled frames;
Not enough blood afills their veins;
Their food is deficient always!
Their eyes speak volumes of ill-luck,
And torture by human beings;
Their bodies bear the scars of past
unfairness, meted out by all!
They have to walk for miles bare-foot,
to fetch a pot of water that
can never quench their thirst for long
but causes diarrheal deaths!
And Nature’s furies take their toll,
As rain and floods and droughts unfold;
Diseases turn them invalids –
The God who made them watches on!
But blame must go to mankind first,
Whose wastage, wrongs and ill-wrought plans
Reduced most of the human race
To existence in poverty!
A few on earth have richer turned,
by making rest of poor, poorer!
Their hearts of greed can’t be appeased
Until their death-knell’s gong is belled!
’Tis strange to watch how hunger kills
the children of stark poverty,
Whilst big money goes down the drain
and rodents, pests eat most food-crops!
Beware of eyes of children poor!
In silent, wordless, ways, they plead
To God to change their misfortune:
Unleash His wrath upon the rich!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 09-27-2008
poem by John Celes
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Sonnet: Wisdom Misused
Oh, how some men can stoop to levels low,
Despite old-age and wisdom that God gave!
Their selfish hearts want money all the more!
They say one thing and do differently, rave!
They throw their principles good to the air;
They nod their heads to orders without shame;
They try to do most things in ways unfair;
They try to harass righteous souls and blame.
Their greedy hearts and minds have made them thus;
How sad to see such men behave this way!
They could receive God’s rod and Maker’s curse!
That they must see their blunders, God, I pray.
But this is how most men behave these days!
With hearts like stone, they wear a mask for face!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 12-28-2006
poem by John Celes
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Sonnet: Through Science to Heaven
The computer has surely changed our lives;
All inventions can play havoc with souls;
From umptine vices, youth pleasure derives,
And misled children take up newer roles.
Don’t shun the newer gadgets coming in;
Machines should not alter our lives too much;
They should not help us land in mortal sin;
They should not give our bodies Satan’s touch.
Whatever comes anew has good and bad;
Self-control lies within our minds and hearts;
Too much of anything can turn us mad;
Our soul’s state matters first, when it departs.
Be not a slave to machines any time;
Let gadgets help us make our lives sublime.
9-7-2002
poem by John Celes
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Christ's Little Sister
Little Sister of the Poor,
Asking alms from door to door,
Ever on you go;
Clothed in the garb of meekness,
Finding strength in others' weakness,
Soothing others' woe.
Little Sister of the Poor,
Rich in patience to endure
Stern Redemption's load;
Cold and rain and parching heat
Hinder not heroic feet
On the Royal Road.
Little Sister of the Poor,
When your weary day is o'er
Rest there may not be;
For the aged, sick, and needy
Vigils claim and succor speedy,
Turning unto thee.
Little Sister of the Poor,
Narrow is the way but sure,
Heavenward leading on;
For the Master's word thou knowest,
'What unto the least thou doest
Unto me is done.'
poem by John Bannister Tabb
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Deepavali - ‘The Festival of Lights
If light must enter every space,
And dispel darkness upon earth,
It must be bright and held aloft,
And permeate all corners, nooks!
If good must win over evil,
Open your hearts and feel contrite
For sins, you did both seen, unseen,
And ask God's pardon in earnest.
If sounds of crackers must give joy,
Just think of those lives that got lost,
Trying to make them for your sake,
Putting their own lives at great risk!
If sweets and savories taste swell,
Remember those who toiled for you,
Both day and night, for weeks ahead,
To make them dainty to relish!
If clothes anew makes you feel great,
Think of those unlucky naked,
Who can't afford to hide their frame,
And spend their lives upon pavements!
If you visit temples to pray,
Give alms to beggars on your way,
And make them glad and beam out smiles,
And watch their faces glow with joy!
Yet, one must celebrate this day,
And feel much happy, come what may;
Giving and sharing gives more joy
Than receiving but well, enjoy!
‘Happy Deepavali to all Indians world-o'er! '
Copyright by Dr John Celes 12-11-'12
poem by John Celes
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Sonnet: The Victorious Rising Sun!
The Rising Sun has made a glorious sweep!
Most voters’ hearts are jubilant again;
The state of Tamilnad is poised to leap!
The Sun is shining well this May with rain!
The eighth of May was ill-omen to some;
The year too totals digit-wise to eight!
The mathemagicians couldn’t solve the sum
That power is with people- was proved right!
The plight of poor fellow-men will improve;
A veteran Chief Minister resumes work;
He’ll rule the land of Tamils with great love!
The ones who lost could truly go berserk!
The Rising Sun will shine with splendor long!
All Tamils hearts echo this joyful song!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 5-11-2006
Dedicated lovingly to the octogenarian,
Fifth time Chief Minister, Thiru. Dr. M.Karunanidhi
poem by John Celes
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Happy Valentine’s Day Greeting
Flowers fade;
Leaves shrivel;
Trees wither.
Hearts stop beating;
Minds stop working;
Limbs stop moving.
True love ’tween hearts however,
Stays on forever,
Precious, priceless and pretty as ever!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 02-14-2009
poem by John Celes
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Care For One Another..
Look at the hearts only,
Beating inside punctually,
as the stars majestically,
One above other vertically,
Hearts are beating vibrantly.
One above the other in high rise,
hearts toil with no surprise,
as the galaxies and constellations,
Hearts are beating horizontally,
Few hearts in big space,
Many hearts in small place,
as the diamonds twinkle in space,
Hearts are found in the ocean,
Hearts are there in the mountains,
Hearts are loitering in the jungles,
Hearts are beating in places,
as the planted gems above us,
Daring hearts are weak,
Weaker hearts are strong,
Most hearts are healthy,
Run and work in safety,
A few suffer and are sickly,
Clogged with fat and heavy,
Rich and poor man's hearts,
Educated and uneducated hearts,
Good and evil hearts,
Agnostic and spiritual hearts,
Healthy and sick hearts,
Beat everywhere to show,
That we care for one another,
and we love one another,
as we look at the stars,
the stars look at our hearts.
poem by Veeraiyah Subbulakshmi
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The Hand of God
The Hand of God is Almighty Himself!
No pride of human hearts can match its pow’r;
No human faculty can challenge Him;
No human thought can decipher God’s ways.
Just fools alone may try to question God;
The righteous wise find shelter in His Word;
No earthly treasures have value in heaven;
Money is invalid in divine vaults.
God stands by righteous souls in all travail;
Defeat is something untrue in their lives;
The devils’ overtures can’t dupe these minds;
Success smiles surely in all things they do.
Lo, Hell awaits all evil human hearts;
None can escape punishment of God just;
Repentance may win favor with the Lord;
The penitent can enter God’s Abode.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 2-28-2008
poem by John Celes
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I Wish If I Were
I wish if I had a magic stick
To become the Peace
To enter all the hearts
To stop all the fights.
To Light up the roads
To arouse the dead pities
To bring back all stolen rights
To become the Happiness
To take away all the saddnesses of the hearts
To make all people smile
To spread the kindness all over the world
To become the Hope
To fly over the world
To spread blessings For the hopless hearts
To become the Honesty
To ban all the iies
To enter every soul To make them learn
The value of the right
To become the Healthiness
To jump among the people
To cure every wound
To revive all the sufferings
All over the world
To become the Wisdom
To light the minds
To spread the light
And ban the dark.
To become the Love song
With every mention the word of love
To wipe away the tears
Of hungry and the poor kids
To make them smile
poem by Sossi Khachadourian
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Sonnet- The World Today(12)
The world wallops in utter selfishness,
And people live in sin and luxury;
And dream in terms of utter hollowness,
And practice unabated usury.
Both men and women are stubborn to the core,
And commit sins far grievous than before;
To evil thoughts stands open their mind’s door,
With hearts of stone, they want to sin much more.
Like shrubs in wasteland, people seem to stand,
Useless to self, they cannot help others;
Both rain and sun are useless for their land;
Their fruitless lives get wasted thus, brothers.
Some only learn to live with God’s beacon,
And make their minds, hearts, souls and days halcyon.
poem by John Celes
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Hearts Render
From birth tiny hearts all grow
As they mature they will know
What hearts are created for
Not by their sizes alone
Do mature hearts become known
Hearts need be judged by much more
Hearts can be carelessly torn
Readily become careworn
Life will lend each heart some pain
Yet such forlorn hearts will heal
Careworn hearts learn how to deal
Mended hearts strength thereby gain
Hearts become bruised and broken
By cruel words that are spoken
Rejections tear them apart
Once healed such hearts find power
Much greater love then will flower
Love rendered by a mended heart
poem by Mary Havran
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Children’s Day,2009
Our children are the gift from God;
You spoil the child by sparing rod;
The priceless wealth from Heav’n above,
That are being aborted now!
Children must be brought up with care;
They have the right to food and air;
Yet, freedom is seldom given;
To begging alms, some are driven!
Children need to learn and to play;
God dwells in them, some always say;
No home is complete without them;
They’re matrimony’s diadem!
How some struggle to have one child!
Yet some rear them like beasts in wild;
The future of the world depends
On healthy children’s dividends!
But why are children ignored much?
Denied are they love, human touch;
Their lives are lost in umpteen ways;
World’s children pass such sadder days!
O world, wake up from your slumber!
Children are bigger in number;
The health of nations is their health;
World’s children are the planet’s wealth!
Let’s make the world a better place;
Let children wear a smile on face;
Let parents rear them with due care;
Without good children, none can fare!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 11-14-2009
poem by John Celes
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Sonnet: God, Make Me Rich While Walking in Your Ways!
Why keep me poor despite my many tries?
My earthly needs are also important;
Why keep your silence, heeding not my cries?
I look akin a futile combatant!
I haven't envied another person, God;
I know my road to you is so very queer;
When will efforts of mine get their reward?
I know I can never become a seer!
My patience seems to ebb out rather fast;
I need your help to make my walk steady;
God, let my failures be a thing of past;
To keep my honest ways, I'm so ready!
Give me O Lord, in life your magic touch;
Athirst for you, I yearn for solace much!
poem by John Celes
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