For, Dear Me, Why Abandon a Belief

BELIEF
For, dear me, why abandon a belief
Merely because it ceases to be true?
Cling to it long enough, and not a doubt
It will turn true again, for so it goes.
   - ROBERT FROST, The Black Cottage

If I can Stop One Heart from Breaking

KINDNESS
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
    I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
    Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
    Unto his nest again
    I shall not live in vain.
      - EMILY DICKINSON, Poems, I

The Whiner's Plaint

THE WHINER’S PLAINT

Going by my passport

They call me Indian abroad

But in my own land

I don’t know who I am.

In South Africa I’m coloured

In the U.S.A. I’m minus red

To the English I am a wog

I still don’t know who I am.

Beyond the Vindhyas I’m a southie

Or more often a Madrasi

In Madras I am a Malayalee

Does anyone know who I am?

To the Muslims I am a Hindu

To the Hindus I’m a Brahmin

Or some other caste name

Do tell me who I am.

If I am to be known by language

Or worse by religion and caste

Sometimes even by my race

Who can say who I am?

I wish they’d call me Indian

And be done with it,

Not bother with anything else

So that for good I know who I am.

                  V. S. Kumar

We Scatter Seeds with careless hand

We scatter seeds with careless hand

And dream we ne’er shall see them more:

But for a thousand years

Their fruit appears

In weeds that mar the land,

Or healthful store.

The deeds we do – the words we say

Into still air they seem to float;

We count them ever past –

But they shall last,

In the dread judgement, they

And we shall meet!

Some Murmur, when their Sky is Clear

Some murmur, when their sky is clear
    And wholly bright to view,
If one small speck of dark appear
    In their great heaven of blue:
And some with thankful love are filled,
    If but one streak of light,
One ray of God's mercy, gild
    The darkness of their night.

                (Trench)

Laugh a little - Sing a little

Laugh a little – sing a little

    As you go your way!

Work a little – play a little,

   Do this every day!

Give a little – take a little,

    Never mind a frown –

Make your smile a welcomed thing

    All around the town!

Laugh a little – love a little,

    Skies are always blue!

Every cloud has silver linings,

    But it’s up to you!