A Saint wishful of attaining Nirvana
Nadungamuwa Pachyderm of majestic appearance
From his master’s blessings having taken
With immense realisation and devotion
Launches his venture upon Senkadagala annual pageant
From Nadungamuwa - hamlet his place of living
To reach his destination in Tooth Relic Kingdom
His duty is to launch in golden casket carrying
Four places named named as resting
Before he reaches the Tooth Relic Kingdom
Temples on the wayside are kept open
Mansions with their coconut groves are left open
To welcome this ‘Fabulous Stature’ with open arms
From ‘every-stay’ Sethpirith is chanted
To leave him steady with Gods blessings
Of the noble duty of golden casket carrying
Before the hectic ‘Poya day’ dawned for him to be adorned
Like a Sakvithi King
He is bathed, washed and ceremonial garments put-on and kept his
duty affirmed
When the nightfall he is taken to the Maligawa precinct
To be blessed with Pirith-chanting
Royal golden casket is placed his back-upon
On a silken screen
The seam of it is studded with glittering gems
Of varied colours
The ceremonial dress silken
Embroidered with tiny bulbs with different-colour formation
Then the kingly-attired tusker steps down
From the Maligawa terrain
Like ‘Sakvithi’ hailing down from Heaven
As it is the full-moon Poya day, the lost charming tranquillity is found
In the beam of light of the full-moon that pours down on the Tooth Relic Kingdom
creating much elegance over the legendary pageant
The exotic view created by the moon-lit haven
enthralls and enhance the beauty of the legendary hill capital
Through this sight displays the tranquillity and serenity in
Senkadagala Tooth Relic Kingdom
Like a saint wishful of perfection of attaining Nirvana
The tusker treads on the white spread
That lay-on the paths in Senkadagalapura
Keeping his measured steps to the pealing of bells
– Dharma Kaviraj
*****
Your Dreams
What are your dreams?
What is keeping you
From attaining them?
For dreams to come true
You have to challenge
The limits that hold you back
Don’t give up trying after a while
But keep on trying until
You dislodge constraints
From your past experience
That keeps you tied
Darling, don’t allow others
Or your past to keep you away
From your destined dream!
– Timothy A. Edward
*****
Nature’s warning
Destroying nature is now a common trend.
To suit one’s need, even the laws of nature are bent.
Causing the wrath of nature to strike one and all,
leading to floods, drought and the economy to fall.
Shelving the issue is not going to help,
as nature destroyed will be like living in hell.
So let’s join hands and do our mite,
to protect the environment and lead a safer life.
– Jessica Thompson.
*****
Nostalgic reflections
Undoubtedly, revisiting
My country of exile I still
Find a promising proposition
I was quite young then
Ready and eager for hitherto
Unknown adventure, mesmerized
By the spectacle of scantily dressed
Lively and seductive African
Damsels, dancing to the wild
Drumbeat, worshiping god of
Eros, enticing me to yield
To dictates of craving
Devouring forbidden fruits
At leisure, now I being quite
Old carrying a heavy load of
Much exalted wisdom such a
Visit, only have nostalgic value
For I am now obliged to condemn
Such vices outright, with or
Without conscience.
- Ranjan M. Amarasinghe.