The Mighty Oak
The mighty Oak has lost its massive look!
The mother-trunk is old and dying fast;
Some aerial-roots in ground anew did hook;
Their smaller trunks appear just like a mast!
The hill I knew is just a mound right now:
It’s razed to almost level ground for sheep:
Its beauty gone, children cannot say, ‘Wow! ’
No meadows, trees now dot its sides, less steep.
Familiar things have vanished like a dream;
The landscape looks different but deceptive;
No more, I see the tamarind and neem;
More neighbors are strangers, less receptive!
Old lovely smiling faces can’t be seen:
Remaining few relatives looking mean!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 2-9-2008
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
Sonnet: Good Shepherd’s Love
One sheep amongst the hundred, if gets lost,
The Good Shepherd begins to search for it,
Returning when ’tis found at any cost –
Lamb gets His shoulders upon which to sit!
God seeks and saves the lamb that’s gone astray!
He will not rest until lost one is found;
He leaves the ninety-nine behind that day;
He leads them on to newer grazing-ground.
What love, the Shepherd’s heart bears for His sheep!
He tends to every lamb with equal care;
Yet, some decide to take the plunge down steep,
And meet their death, despite His warnings bare.
The Good Shepherd will not forsake one sheep!
No wolves in sheep-skin dare to come or creep.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 5-7-2008
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Shepherd
The shepherd goads his sheep by staff,
And leads them on to pastures green,
Instructing them to watch for wolves
That come in sheep-skin, in their midst!
The shepherd knows each sheep by name,
And calls them sweetly when they stray,
Or when they near the ledge atop
A valley deep or hill-side steep!
The sheep too know their shepherd's call,
And graze on meadows, keeping near;
They know he is their protector,
And will save them at any cost!
How safe it is when shepherd's near!
No sheep can ever lose its way;
The shepherd takes care of the flock,
But cannot bear to see one, lost!
Dedicated to Rev. Fr. Xavier Claudius, Parish Priest,
Holy Family Church, Perundurai, by his beloved parishioners
Copyright by Dr John Celes 31-05-2012
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Sonnet- Nature Is Wonderful
A Banyan sapling's growing on the wall;
From near the drainage-pipe, luxuriantly;
Astonishing the people near-by all;
Its trunk looks almost like a mini-tree.
Look how, the leaves appear so verdant, stiff;
The aerial roots are three metres in length;
The tree looks gorgeous as if on a cliff;
And everyday, God gives it greater strength.
Bless'd is the Bird who spat the Banyan-seed;
Thanks to the water o'er-flowing from tank;
'Tis photo-synthesis, soil-less, indeed;
It cant grow fast like ones on River-bank.
But if the roots manage to reach the ground,
The tree will live a thousand years, ‘Tis found.
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Our Mother Dear
Most lovely mother, you had been,
Whose love, unfailing, world had seen;
And duty-bound wife to father;
How lucky, we were all, rather!
Now old and wizened in life’s ways,
You pass your few remaining days;
With accomplished, still bright, a face –
A role-model for us, always!
Lord Jesus Christ awaits you, mom –
A righteous, precious, soul belov’d;
With gifts, rewards, priceless, handsome;
True Marian, Christian, you have proved.
Your prayers have gone to heaven –
You have children of grand-children;
The Lord is calling you from nigh;
That day, you’ll wish to earth, ‘Good-bye! ’
“But that will be for just awhile!
We will all meet again, in style! ”
Fondly dedicated to our loving mother,
Mrs. Stella Antoniswami, ‘Old Chungam’, CBE.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 4-29-2008
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Human Eyes
You might peep;
You might weep;
But God gave eyes to know
His Nature deep,
With beauty steep,
And your soul, to keep!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 3-22-2008
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Dogs Are Shakespearean, Children Are Strangers
Dogs are Shakespearean, children are strangers.
Let Freud and Wordsworth discuss the child,
Angels and Platonists shall judge the dog,
The running dog, who paused, distending nostrils,
Then barked and wailed; the boy who pinched his sister,
The little girl who sang the song from Twelfth Night,
As if she understood the wind and rain,
The dog who moaned, hearing the violins in concert.
—O I am sad when I see dogs or children!
For they are strangers, they are Shakespearean.
Tell us, Freud, can it be that lovely children
Have merely ugly dreams of natural functions?
And you, too, Wordsworth, are children truly
Clouded with glory, learned in dark Nature?
The dog in humble inquiry along the ground,
The child who credits dreams and fears the dark,
Know more and less than you: they know full well
Nor dream nor childhood answer questions well:
You too are strangers, children are Shakespearean.
Regard the child, regard the animal,
Welcome strangers, but study daily things,
Knowing that heaven and hell surround us,
But this, this which we say before we’re sorry,
This which we live behind our unseen faces,
Is neither dream, nor childhood, neither
Myth, nor landscape, final, nor finished,
For we are incomplete and know no future,
And we are howling or dancing out our souls
In beating syllables before the curtain:
We are Shakespearean, we are strangers.
poem by Delmore Schwartz
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Happy Mother’s Day,2008
I’m glad to have a mother good,
Who nursed me well and gave good food;
Who taught me how to read and write,
And sang a lullaby each night.
Who showed me how to walk and run,
And played with me to have some fun;
Who kept me spick and span each day,
And told me stories like a Fay.
Who showed me how to pray to God,
And caned me sometimes as a rod;
Who reared me well with love and care,
And toiled all life for my welfare.
A lovely soul, one’s mother is,
Who shows the way to every bliss!
God bless my mother specially,
And keep her happy and healthy.
‘Wish you dear mom, a Happy Mother’s Day,2008! ’
Copyright by Dr John Celes 5-1-2008
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Dreams, Dreams, Dreams
Most children want to copy adults fast;
They try to dress and talk and walk like one;
They want to do the things what adults do;
But children can’t be adults before time!
Adults dream of their childhood years at times;
They cannot move or speak or walk child-like;
They cannot be innocent like children;
They can’t become children again in life.
The elderly have dreams of their own too;
Oh, how they wish they were younger in age!
They recollect the things they did when young;
Their frames and minds are weaker than they think!
All human beings live in dreams galore;
Most dreams cannot become reality;
Our dreams must be something we can well do;
Too much of dreams don’t help to dash ahead.
Each stage of life can be lived only once;
One cannot go back or ahead in time;
Be happy with whatever you’ve achieved;
Life is so wonderful they way it is!
Just keep your mind and heart as per your age;
Be aware of the limits, risks, you take;
Life shouldn’t be lost even through accidents;
Life is the greatest gift of God to you!
Thank God for whatever you are in life;
Thank Him for gift of human life and soul;
Thank Him for all the things, He’d done for you;
Thank Him for all His love and kindness shown!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 10-12-2008
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Bathing Nymph
-A bathing beauty born to be afloat
On waters blue and still, well nigh the beach
Of forsaken isles, where no man has trod.
The pretty blonde with golden hair looks great,
As sun-beams swathe her raiment through and through;
The conchs and corals of the sea-bed show!
She plays with sea-gulls happily for long;
The water-waves wafting a divine song;
The lovely lass looks lit like fallen star!
The damsel day-dreams, drenched in dawn’s day-light!
There is no prince to woo her to be wife!
The bathing nymph has never tasted strife!
Her life goes on in Mother Nature’s lap!
Each sun-set drives her deep down for a nap;
She‘s up again smiling at break of day!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 8-4-2008
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
World Poetry Day 2012 Poem: Corruption-eradication
Though cancer finds cures at times and
Cold wars abate when changes tides,
Hatred may transform to love but
The monster Corruption lives on!
Too ingrained in men's hearts, the vice
can change its forms and shapes with ease;
The roots are too widespread and deep;
Corruption defies erasure.
Whole lifetimes can't suffice to deal;
Fuelled by satan and legions,
It resists efforts to efface,
Remaining mother of vices!
Yet, good hearts can curb menace well;
A century of labour yields
A class of men when born anew
Who promise God to live straight lives.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 21-03-12
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Sonnet: A Happy Family
A happy family is one blessed by God!
Both parents slog all life for their children;
And children honor parents, without rod;
All walk united en way to Heaven.
A happy family lives in piety;
Their home is warm and welcomes everyone;
They’re satisfied and live with satiety;
There’s time for love, care, work, play, also fun!
A happy family loves its neighbors well;
All share their joys, woes, grief and problems too;
Their faith in God, their smiling faces tell;
With divine aim, all earthly works, they do!
A happy family prays in harmony;
God meets their needs of body, soul, money!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 12-1-2006
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
A Tribute to Our Beloved Mom, ‘STELLA’
(On The Occasion of her Sad Demise …)
Our mom is not alive anymore, oh!
She’s gone to be with God forever, so;
She had a sudden exit from the earth;
Nevertheless, it was a peaceful, death.
Last time I met her, she looked quite healthy;
She was already aged more than ninety;
Her talk and attitude had us impressed;
But in her heart of hearts, she was distressed.
She’d thought, her time had come to say ‘Good-bye’;
She lived as if she was ready to die;
She had prepared for this for quite a while;
She lived in fear of God but fearless style.
Her life was exemplary from the start;
She loved to live but knew she must depart;
She lived a simple life through sheer God’s will;
She kept her cool and wasn’t seriously ill.
We thank Thee God for taking her away!
We thank Thee for keeping her till this day;
To us, she looked so great, almost a Fay;
Her love, we children can never repay!
She looked after herself until the last;
She knew the present, future and the past;
She lived in high spirits, never downcast;
She walked and wrote and spoke so very fast.
We wondered if she was a living saint!
She was a workaholic all her life;
She was so smart in everything she did;
She kept her sanity until the end.
All children loved her very much by heart;
A tower of strength and good advice, she stayed;
She kept so calm in face of trying times;
She prayed the Holy rosary always!
She was the link to all our relatives;
She was beloved in all family circles;
She worked from dawn till dusk, until mid-night;
She was up in the morning ’fore the rest.
Oh, what a fine mother and wife, she was!
Oh, what a nice grand-mother, sibling too!
She was some kind of living library;
She consoled anyone who sought her aid.
Her will-power surprised us very much;
Her words of kindness had a magic touch;
She spoke effortlessly and heard our woes;
She loved all friends, strangers and even foes!
We feel so happy; yet, we want to cry!
We feel so sad but ecstatic as well;
We know our mother no more lives with us;
The loss is irreparable and true!
She left the world on Tuesday, St.Antony’s day!
That was the name of dad, her husband too;
She was so brave until the very last;
Today the earth’s star ‘Stella’ is heavened!
She was a lamp so bright atop life’s hill;
She lived by Word of God and by God’s will;
She served as example to all around;
Her life was founded upon holy ground!
She loved to serve the Almighty always;
She loved her children, husband, all her days;
Her love for God was firm and steadfast too;
For sake of God, her duties, she would do!
She’ll guide her children from her newer place;
In death, she wore a holy, smiling face;
She’s now a blessing for the human race;
Amongst women, she showed she was an ‘ace’!
Fondly dedicated to (late) Mrs. Stella Antoniswamy, CBE
By all her children, grand-children and their spouses
Copyright by Dr John Celes 27-04-2010
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
An Island War Tragedy!
Their hero is no more but then,
He is alive in every heart
And mind, for whom he fought so well,
Until he ultimately fell
To bullets sprayed from ruthless guns,
That brought the valiant man to earth.
The land is freed from ‘tigers’ now?
A mighty myth was rendered false;
The landscape lies in ruins much;
‘The people are refugees, ’ ‘Oh! ’
They died by thousands, all in vain;
Most families in tents just live.
Denied of equal rights for long,
The people hum a plaintive song
Of sufferings and unfairness,
Unleashed upon them by brethren.
Their trauma is too great to tell;
Their island life is now like hell.
They razed all buildings to the ground;
Their ravished women look like ghosts;
The mutilated ones too die,
For want of proper treatment fast.
Has God abandoned them also?
They have been victims of all crimes!
The war is over but so what?
Their fate lies hanging in peril;
Their shattered dreams of wealth and health
Have gone awaste in dogged lives;
Their families are dejected;
They wonder why they are alive!
The world stayed watching them suffer!
Their neighbors were insensitive;
A rosy world has turned blood-red!
Their future is in smithereens!
Where is the God who had made them?
Should wars cause wounds that cannot heal?
What tragedy had struck their isle!
Their land was like a paradise;
But things have gone all awry now;
They have no water, food to take;
Like cattle driven to their pens,
Their victors treat them worse than beasts!
Could not the genocide been stopped?
Is there not ways to avoid wars?
Innocent men, women, children,
Fall prey to perpetrators’ guns!
The world is silent while more die
Of diseases and lack of care!
The people need a soothing touch!
Let nations rush to help these souls;
They had not slept for days on end;
Their ears are deaf by blasts of bombs!
If human love is supreme, then,
Let nations hurry up to help!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 20-5-09
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Help Haitians Now!
In just a few minutes of time,
The whole landscape was gone,
Undone by Mother Nature’s fury – Quake!
And no one ever imagined,
Catastrophe would strike,
Without fore-warning signs any that day!
The land was shaken severely;
Most buildings turned rubble,
With lakhs dead; maimed or missing; some still trapped.
The place was thrown in darkness fast;
Survivors took to streets;
Some groans and muffled cries for help are heard!
The world knew what had happened soon;
Relief trickled in late;
But no one can be truly blamed for it!
Concrete structures too had come down!
Utter chaos prevails;
The locals tried to save some lives, they could.
Why Haiti shook, no one can tell?
The victims need our love,
Consolation, help and care and prayers.
Can aid efforts be streamlined fast?
Will leaders work a deal?
Survivors need food, clothes and medicines!
There are some trapped and still alive;
There some dying fast;
Some are suffering agonizing pain!
The world can stall its scheduled plans;
Helping victims is prime;
Unite efforts to save unlucky lives!
O world! Act now and rather fast;
Time precious is ebbing;
Search the rubble; rescue lives that you can!
Pray God relents and showers grace;
Pray things get cleared out fast;
This is a test for faith and human love!
Be charitable, generous;
Show love for neighbors all;
Today ’tis Haiti; morrow could choose us!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 1-16-2010
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Sonnet: The Flocks Need More Shepherds
Shepherds are turning scarcer, day by day!
Fragmented flocks have lesser sheep in fold;
With many lost, many sheep go astray;
Devils on rampage trouble, young and old.
Meadows have lesser grass that's succulent;
More sheep want better grass, water to drink;
The climes these days are turning turbulent;
The few shepherds are old-aged, on death's brink!
Shepherdless stay some flocks for many days;
They do not know the shepherd or his call!
The shepherd does not know his sheep by face;
From wolves' attack, there is no staff to stall!
Yet, God will find the shepherds in strange ways;
All righteous find their way through earthly maze!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 15-07-12
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Mothers’ Day ‘08
North or south; east or west;
A mother’s love is always best!
Throughout its childhood, cleaned and dressed,
A mother gives baby, good rest.
A mother is the love-pillar;
A father is the source of strength;
A child is like caterpillar,
Metamorphosing in its length!
A mother keeps the home happy;
A mother cleans the babe’s nappy;
A mother tends to dear daddy;
A mom-less home cannot be sweet!
The angel in the house is mom!
The toiler of the home is mom;
The cleaner in the house is mom;
She knows all problems but keeps mum!
The chief-cook in the house is mom;
The teacher in the house is mom;
The care-taker is also mom;
She knowingly is sometimes dumb!
A spoilt-kid’s mom had spared the rod;
As children’s friend, mother looks odd;
For most things, mothers give the nod;
A mother is a demi-god!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 5-11-2008
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
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
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
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
Vote! | Copy!
On Winning a Race!
'Not all can win in any race!
You just improve your mental pace;
Keep your smiling, cheerful, a face;
Never give up your wild goose- chase,
Until you win, in any case! '
Copyright by Dr John Celes 5-26-2008
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Sonnet: By God's Grace, the New Dean is One Year Old!
Most trees that grew around were cut for wood!
Just one escaped, as massive was its trunk!
If cut, it would have yielded timber good,
For, it was huge enough for making plank!
The campus has been efforested now –
The buildings seen from outside with much ease;
That one tree looks gorgeous all the more, wow!
It seems to live for years without disease!
The same soil, rain and sun nurtured all trees;
Just one managed to grow surpassing rest;
It brought the wood-cutters down on their knees!
It won the race on earth and stands the best!
God treats alike all creatures, great and small;
’Tis each one’s choice to heed the divine call!
Dedicated as a thanksgiving to the one living, loving God
By Dr.Celestine A. Raj Manohar MD.,
Dean, IRT-PMC, Perundurai
Copyright by Dr John Celes 10-11-2009
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!