Aesop's tales # 29 - The Wolf and the Shepherd

A Wolf had been prowling around a flock of Sheep for a long time, and the Shepherd watched very anxiously to prevent him from carrying off a Lamb. But the Wolf did not try to do any harm. Instead he seemed to be helping the Shepherd take care of the Sheep. At last the Shepherd got so used to seeing the Wolf about that he forgot how wicked he could be.

One day he even went so far as to leave his flock in the Wolf's care while he went on an errand. But when he came back and saw how many of the flock had been killed and carried off, he knew how foolish to trust a Wolf as he exclaimed. “I have been rightly served; why did I trust my sheep to a Wolf?”

Moral: Delegate your task wisely, and only to people you trust.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 28 - The Hare and the Hound

A Hound started a Hare from his lair, but after a long run, gave up the chase. A goat-herd seeing him stop, mocked him, saying, "The little one is the best runner of the two." The Hound replied, "You do not see the difference between us: I was only running for a dinner, but he for his life."

Moral: Incentive spurs effort.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 27 - The Ass in the Lion's skin

An Ass found a Lion's skin left in the forest by a hunter. He dressed himself in it, and amused himself by hiding in a thicket and rushing out suddenly at the animals who passed that way. All took to their heels the moment they saw him.

The Ass was so pleased to see the animals running away from him, just as if he were King Lion himself, that he could not keep from expressing his delight by a loud, harsh bray. A Fox, who ran with the rest, stopped short as soon as he heard the voice. Approaching the Ass, he said with a laugh:

"If you had kept your mouth shut you might have frightened me, too. But you gave yourself away with that silly bray."

Moral: No disguise will hide one's true character.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 26 - The Fox and the Cat

A Fox was boasting to a Cat of its clever devices for escaping its enemies. "I have a whole bag of tricks," he said, "which contains a hundred ways of escaping my enemies."

"I have only one," said the Cat; "but I can generally manage with that." Just at that moment they heard the cry of a pack of hounds coming towards them, and the Cat immediately scampered up a tree and hid herself in the boughs. "This is my plan," said the Cat. "What are you going to do?" The Fox thought first of one way,

then of another, and while he was debating the hounds came nearer and nearer, and at last the Fox in his confusion was caught up by the hounds and soon killed by the huntsmen. Miss Puss, who had been looking on, said:

"Better one safe way than a hundred on which you cannot reckon."

Moral: One sure plan is better than a hundred options.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 25 - The Fox and the Crow

One bright morning as the Fox was following his sharp nose through the wood in search of a bite to eat, he saw a Crow on the limb of a tree overhead. This was by no means the first Crow the Fox had ever seen. What caught his attention this time and made him stop for a second look, was that the lucky Crow held a bit of cheese in her beak.

“No need to search any farther,” thought sly Master Fox. “Here is a dainty bite for my breakfast.”

Up he trotted to the foot of the tree in which the Crow was sitting, and looking up admiringly, he cried, “Good-morning, beautiful creature!”

The Crow, her head cocked on one side, watched the Fox suspiciously. But she kept her beak tightly closed on the cheese and did not return his greeting.

“What a charming creature she is!” said the Fox. “How her feathers shine! What a beautiful form and what splendid wings! Such a wonderful Bird should have a very lovely voice, since everything else about her is so perfect. Could she sing just one song, I know I should hail her Queen of Birds.”

Listening to these flattering words, the Crow forgot all her suspicion, and also her breakfast. She wanted very much to be called Queen of Birds.

So she opened her beak wide to utter her loudest caw, and down fell the cheese straight into the Fox's open mouth.

“Thank you,” said Master Fox sweetly, as he walked off. “Though it is cracked, you have a voice sure enough. But where are your wits?”

Moral: Do not trust flatterers. He who listens to flattery is not wise, for it has no good purpose.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 24 - The Cock and the Jewel

A Cock was busily scratching and scraping about to find something to eat for himself and his family, when he happened to turn up a precious jewel that had been lost by its owner.

"Aha!" said the Cock. "No doubt you are very costly and he who lost you would give a great deal to find you. But as for me, I would choose a single grain of barley corn before all the jewels in the world."

Moral: Precious things are without value to those who cannot prize them.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 23 - The Lark and her Young Ones

A Lark made her nest in a field of young wheat. As the days passed, the wheat stalks grew tall and the young birds, too, grew in strength. Then one day, when the ripe golden grain waved in the breeze, the Farmer and his son came into the field.

"This wheat is now ready for reaping," said the Farmer. "We must call in our neighbors and friends to help us harvest it."

The young Larks in their nest close by were much frightened, for they knew they would be in great danger if they did not leave the nest before the reapers came. When the Mother Lark returned with food for them, they told her what they had heard.

"Do not be frightened, children," said the Mother Lark. "If the Farmer said he would call in his neighbors and friends to help him do his work, this wheat will not be reaped for a while yet."

A few days later, the wheat was so ripe, that when the wind shook the stalks, a hail of wheat grains came rustling down on the young Larks' heads.

"If this wheat is not harvested at once," said the Farmer, "we shall lose half the crop. We cannot wait any longer for help from our friends. Tomorrow we must set to work, ourselves."

When the young Larks told their mother what they had heard that day, she said "Then we must be off at once. When a man decides to do his own work and not depend on any one else, then you may be sure there will be no more delay."

There was much fluttering and trying out of wings that afternoon, and at sunrise next day, when the Farmer and his son cut down the grain, they found an empty nest.

Moral: Self-help is the best help. Procrastination is the thief of time.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 22 - The Donkey carrying salt

A Merchant, driving his Donkey homeward from the seashore with a heavy load of salt, came to a river crossed by a shallow ford. They had crossed this river many times before without accident, but this time the Donkey slipped and fell when halfway over. And when the Merchant at last got him to his feet, much of the salt had melted away. Delighted to find how much lighter his burden had become, the Donkey finished the journey very happily.

Next day the Merchant went for another load of salt. On the way home the Donkey, remembering what had happened at the ford, purposely let himself fall into the water, and again got rid of most of his burden.

The angry Merchant immediately turned about and drove the Donkey back to the seashore, where he loaded him with two great baskets of sponges. At the ford the Donkey again tumbled over; but when he had scrambled to his feet, it was a very disconsolate Donkey that dragged himself homeward under a load ten times heavier than before.

Moral:  The same measures will not suit all circumstances.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 21 - The Lion and the Mouse

A Lion lay asleep in the forest, his great head resting on his paws. A timid little Mouse came upon him unexpectedly, and in her fright and haste to get away, ran across the Lion's nose. Roused from his nap, the Lion laid his huge paw angrily on the tiny creature to kill her.

“Spare me!” begged the poor Mouse. “Please let me go and some day I will surely repay you.”

The Lion was much amused to think that a Mouse could ever help him. But he was generous and finally let the Mouse go.

Some days later, while stalking his prey in the forest, the Lion was caught in the toils of a hunter's net. Unable to free himself, he filled the forest with his angry roaring. The Mouse knew the voice and quickly found the Lion struggling in the net. Running to one of the great ropes that bound him, she gnawed it until it parted, and soon the Lion was free.

“You laughed when I said I would repay you,” said the Mouse. “Now you see that even a Mouse can help a Lion.”

Moral:  Never judge a book by its cover. No one is too weak to do good.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 20 - The Miller, his son and their Ass

A Miller and his son were driving their Ass to a neighboring fair to sell him. They had not gone far when they met with a troop of women collected round a well, talking and laughing. "Look there,"cried one of them, "did you ever see such fellows, to be trudging along the road on foot when they might ride?” The old man hearing this, quickly made his son mount the Ass, and continued to walk along merrily by his side.

Presently they came up to a group of old men in earnest debate. “There," said one of them, "it proves what I was a-saying.What respect is shown to old age in these days? Do you see that idle lad riding while his old father has to walk? Get down, you young scapegrace, and let the old man rest his weary limbs." Upon this the old man made his son dismount, and got up himself.

In this manner they had not proceeded far when they met a company of women and children. "Why, you lazy old fellow,"  cried several tongues at once, "how can you ride upon the beast, while that poor little lad there can hardly keep pace by the side of you?” The good-natured Miller immediately took up his son behind him.

They had now almost reached the town. "Pray, honest friend," said a citizen, "is that Ass your own?” "Yes," replied the old man. "Oh, one would not have thought so," said the other, "by the way you load him. Why, you two fellows are better able to carry the poor beast than he you." "Anything to please you," said the old

man; "we can but try."

So, alighting with his son, they tied the legs of the Ass together and with the help of a pole endeavored to carry him on their shoulders over a bridge near the entrance to the town. This entertaining sight brought the people in crowds to laugh at it, till the Ass, not liking the noise nor the strange handling that he was subject to, broke the cords that bound him and, tumbling off the pole, fell into the river.

Upon this, the old man, vexed and ashamed, made the best of his way home again, convinced that by endeavoring to please everybody he had pleased nobody, and lost his Ass in the bargain.

Moral: Try to please all and you end up pleasing none.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 19 - The One-Eyed Doe

A Doe had had the misfortune to lose one of her eyes, and could not see any one approaching her on that side.

So to avoid any danger she always used to feed on a high cliff near the sea, with her sound eye looking towards the land. By this means she could see whenever the hunters approached her on land, and often escaped by this means. 

But the hunters found out that she was blind of one eye, and hiring a boat rowed under the cliff where she used to feed and shot her from the sea. "Ah," cried she with her dying voice, you cannot escape your fate."

Moral:  Trouble comes from the direction we least expect it.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 18 - The Lion in Love

A Lion once fell in love with a beautiful maiden and proposed marriage to her parents. The old people did not know what to say. They did not like to give their daughter to the Lion, yet they did not wish to enrage the King of Beasts. At last the father said: "We feel highly honoured by your Majesty's proposal, but you see our daughter is a tender young thing, and we fear that in the vehemence of your affection you might possibly do her some injury. Might I venture to suggest that your Majesty should have your claws removed, and your teeth extracted, then we would gladly consider your proposal again." 

The Lion was so much in love that he had his claws trimmed and his big teeth taken out. But when he came again to the parents of the young girl they simply laughed in his face, and bade him do his worst.

Moral: Love can tame the wildest. Misfortune awaits those who love unwisely.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 17 - The Monkey and the Dolphin

A Sailor, bound on a long voyage, took with him a Monkey to amuse him while on shipboard. As he sailed off the coast of Greece, a violent tempest arose in which the ship was wrecked and he, his Monkey, and all the crew were obliged to swim for their lives. 

A Dolphin saw the Monkey contending with the waves, and supposing him to be a man (whom he is always said to befriend), came and placed himself under him, to convey him on his back in safety to the shore. 

When the Dolphin arrived with his burden in sight of land not far from Athens, he asked the Monkey if he were an Athenian. The latter replied that he was, and that he was descended from one of the most noble families in that city. The Dolphin then inquired if he knew the Piraeus (the famous harbor of Athens). Supposing that a man was meant, the Monkey answered that he knew him very well and that he was an intimate friend. The Dolphin, indignant at these falsehoods, dipped the Monkey under the water and drowned him.

Moral: Those who pretend to be what they are not, sooner or later, find themselves in deep water.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 16 - The Bundle of Sticks

A certain Father had a family of Sons, who were forever quarreling among themselves. No words he could say did the least good, so he cast about in his mind for some very striking example that should make them see that discord would lead them to misfortune.

One day when the quarreling had been much more violent than usual and each of the Sons was moping in a surly manner, he asked one of them to bring him a bundle of sticks. Then handing the bundle to each of his Sons in turn he told them to try to break it. But although each one tried his best, none was able to do so.

The Father then untied the bundle and gave the sticks to his Sons to break one by one. This they did very easily.

“My Sons,” said the Father, “do you not see how certain it is that if you agree with each other and help each other, it will be impossible for your enemies to injure you? But if you are divided among yourselves, you will be no stronger than a single stick in that bundle.”

Moral: In Unity is Strength. Disunited families are easily injured by others.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 15 - The Eagle and the Beetle

An Eagle was chasing a hare, which was running for dear life and was at her wits' end to know where to turn for help. Presently she espied a Beetle, and begged it to aid her. So when the Eagle came up the Beetle warned her not to touch the hare, which was under its protection. But the Eagle never noticed the Beetle

because it was so small, seized the hare and ate her up. The Beetle never forgot this, and used to keep an eye on the Eagle's nest, and whenever the Eagle laid an egg it climbed up and rolled it out of the nest and broke it.

At last the Eagle got so worried over the loss of her eggs that she went up to Jupiter, who is the special protector of Eagles, and begged him to give her a safe place to nest in; so he let her lay her eggs in his lap. But the Beetle noticed this and made a ball of dirt the size of an Eagle's egg, and flew up and deposited it in Jupiter's lap. When Jupiter saw the dirt, he stood up to shake it out of his robe, and, forgetting about the eggs, he shook them out too, and they were broken just as before.

Ever since then, they say, Eagles never lay their eggs at the season when Beetles are about.

Moral:  Even the weakest may find means to avenge a wrong.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 14 - A Man and his two Wives

In the old days, when men were allowed to have many wives, a middle-aged Man had one wife that was old and one that was young; each loved him very much, and desired to see him like herself.

Now the Man's hair was turning grey, which the young Wife did not like, as it made him look too old for her husband. So every night she used to comb his hair and pick out the white ones. But the elder Wife saw her husband growing grey with great pleasure, for she did not like to be mistaken for his mother. So every morning she used to arrange his hair and pick out as many of the black ones as she could. The consequence was the Man soon found himself entirely bald.

Moral: Yield to all and you will soon have nothing to yield.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 13 - The Rivers and the Sea

The Rivers joined together to complain to the Sea, saying, "Why is it that when we flow into your tides so potable and sweet, you work in us such a change, and make us salty and unfit to drink?"

The Sea, perceiving that they intended to throw the blame on him, said, "Pray cease to flow into me, and then you will not be made briny."

Moral: Don't blame others for a situation caused by you.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 12 - The Two pots

Two Pots, one of brass and the other of clay, stood together on the hearthstone. One day the Brass Pot proposed to the Earthen Pot that they go out into the world together. But the Earthen Pot excused himself, saying that it would be wiser for him to stay in the corner by the fire.

“It would take so little to break me,” he said. “You know how fragile I am. The least shock is sure to shatter me!”

“Don't let that keep you at home,” urged the Brass Pot. “I shall take very good care of you. If we should happen to meet anything hard I will step between and save you.”

So the Earthen Pot at last consented, and the two set out side by side, jolting along on three stubby legs first to this side, then to that, and bumping into each other at every step.

The Earthen Pot could not survive that sort of companionship very long. They had not gone ten paces before the Earthen Pot cracked, and at the next jolt he flew into a thousand pieces.

Moral: The strong and the weak cannot keep company.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 11 - The Young Thief and his Mother

A young man had been caught in a daring act of theft and had been condemned to be executed for it. He expressed his desire to see his mother, and to speak with her before he was led to execution, and of course this was granted. 

When his mother came to him he said: "I want to whisper to you," and when she brought her ear near him, he nearly bit it off. 

All the bystanders were horrified, and asked him what he could mean by such brutal and inhuman conduct.

"It is to punish her," he said. "When I was young I began with stealing little things, and brought them home to mother. Instead of rebuking and punishing me, she laughed and said: "It will not be noticed".

"It is because of her that I am here to-day."

Moral: Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart therefrom.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 10 - The Boy who cried Wolf

There once was a boy who kept sheep not far from the village. He would often become bored and to amuse himself he would call out, "Wolf! Wolf," although there was no wolf about. 

The villagers would stop what they were doing and run to save the sheep from the wolf's jaw. Once they arrived at the pasture, the boy just laughed. The naughty boy played this joke over and over until the villagers  got tired of him.

One day while the boy was watching the sheep, a wolf did come into the fold. The boy cried and cried, "Wolf! Wolf!"

No one came. The wolf had a feast of sheep that day.

Moral: No one will believe a habitual liar even when he is telling the truth

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 9 - The Tree and the Reed

"Well, little one," said a Tree to a Reed that was growing at its foot, "why do you not plant your feet deeply in the ground, and raise your head boldly in the air as I do?" 

I am contented with my lot," said the Reed. "I may not be so grand, but I think I am safer."  

"Safe!" sneered the Tree. "Who shall pluck me up by the roots or bow my head to the ground?" But it soon had to repent of its boasting, for a hurricane arose which tore it up from its roots, and cast it a useless log on the ground. while the little Reed, bending to the force of the wind, soon stood upright again when the storm had passed over.

Moral: Obscurity often brings safety

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 8 - The Milkmaid and her Pail

Patty, the milkmaid was going to market carrying her milk in a pail on her head. As she went along, she began calculating what she would do with the money she would get for the milk.

"I'll buy some fowls from farmer Brown, she said. They will lay eggs each morning, which I will sell to the parson's wife. With the money that I get from the sale of these eggs, I'll buy myself a new dimity frock, and a chip hat. When I go to the market, won't all the men come up and speak to me! Polly Shaw will be very jealous. But. I don't care. I shall just look at her and toss my head like this". As she spoke, she tossed her head back, the pail fell off, and all the milk was spilt.

Moral: Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 7 - The City Mouse and the Country Mouse

A country mouse invited his cousin who lived in the city to come visit him. The city mouse was so disappointed with the sparse meal which was nothing more than a few kernels of corn and couple of dried berries.

"My poor cousin, said the city mouse. You hardly have anything to eat! I do believe that an ant could eat better! Please do come to the city and visit me, and I will show you such rich feasts, readily available for the taking".

So, the country mouse left with his city cousin who brought him to a splendid feast in the city's alley. The country mouse could not believe his eyes. He had never seen so much food in one place. There was bread, cheese, cereals, and grains of all sorts scattered about in a warm cozy portion of the alley.

The two mice settled down to eat their wonderful dinner, but before they barely took their first bites, a cat approached their dining area. The two mice scampered away and hid in a small uncomfortable hole until the cat left. Finally, it was quiet, and the unwelcome visitor went to prowl somewhere else. The two mice came out of the hole and resumed their abundant feast. Before they could get a proper taste in their mouth, another visitor intruded on their dinner, and the two little mice had to scuttle away quickly.

"Goodbye, said the country mouse. You do indeed live in a plentiful city, but I am going home where I can enjoy my dinner in peace".

Moral: A modest life with peace and quiet is better than a richly one with danger and strife.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 6 - The Peacock's complaint

A peacock was very unhappy with his ugly voice, and he spent most of his days complaining about it.

"It's true that you cannot sing", said the fox. "But look how beautiful you are!"

"Oh, but what good is all this beauty," moaned the disheartened bird. "I have such an unpleasant voice!"

"Listen, said the fox. Each one has their own special gift. You have such beauty, the nightingale has his song, the owl his eyes, and the eagle his strength. Even if you had an eloquent voice, you would still complain about another thing".

Moral: Do not envy the gifts of others. Make the most of your own.

Cheers!

 

Aesop's tales # 5 - The Wolf and the Crane

A wolf ravished his prey one day. He ate so fiercely and hungrily that a bone got lodged in his throat, causing him grievous pain. He howled and howled in agony and offered a rich reward to anyone who could remove the bone. 

A crane passing by considering the money, and after seeing the wolf and hearing him scream in pain, took pity on him. She used her long thin bill to reach down his throat and remove the bone. And after removing the bone, she asked the wolf for the promised reward.

"Reward!, cried the wolf, you greedy, insolent bird! Why do you deserve a reward?. You're lucky that I didn't bite your head off when you stuck it in my mouth!".

Moral: Do not expect gratitude

Cheers!

 

Aesop's tales # 4 - The Wind and the Sun

The wind and the sun argued one day over which one was the stronger. Spotting a man traveling on the road, they sported a challenge to see which one could remove the coat from the man's back the quickest.

The wind began. He blew strong gusts of air, so strong that the man could barely walk against them. But the man clutched his coat tight against him. The wind blew harder and longer, and the harder the wind blew, the tighter the man held his coat against him. The wind blew until he was exhausted, but he could not remove the coat from the man's back.

It was now the sun's turn. He gently sent  his beams upon the traveler. The sun did very little, but quietly shone upon his head and back until the man became so warm that he took off his coat and headed for the nearest shade tree.

Moral: Gentle persuasion is stronger than force.

Cheers!

 

Aesop's tales # 3 - The Goose that laid the Golden Egg

A man and his wife owned a very special goose. Every day the goose would lay a golden egg, which made the couple very rich.

"Just think, said the man's wife, if we could have all the golden eggs that are inside the goose, we would be richer much sooner".

"You're right, said the husband, we wouldn't have to wait for the goose to lay her egg every day".

So, the couple killed the goose and cut her open, only to find that she was just like every other goose. She had no golden eggs inside of her at all, and they had no more golden eggs.

Moral: Too much greed results in nothing.

Cheers!

Aesop's tales # 2 - The Bear and the Bees

A bear came across a log where a swarm of bees had nested to make their honey. As he snooped around, a single little bee flew out of the log to protect the swarm. Knowing that the bear would eat all the honey, the little bee stung him sharply on the nose and flew back into the log.

This angered the bear. He swatted at the log with his big claws, determined to destroy the nest of bees inside. This only alerted the bees and quick as a wink, the entire swarm of bees flew out of the log and began to sting the bear from head to heel. The bear saved himself by running to and diving into the nearest pond.

Moral: It is better to bear a single injury in silence that to bring about a thousand by reacting in anger.

Cheers!

 

Aesop's tales # 1 - A Council of Mice

As promised, the subsequent posts will have a collection of tales from the Greek story teller, Aesop. Aesop was a slave in ancient Greece. Not much is known about his life. Most of the characters in his stories are animals, and Aesop uses the natural tendencies of animals to focus on human traits and wisdom. Each story has a moral to be learned from it.

Here is the first one.

The mice, frustrated by the constant dangers of the cat, meet in council to determine a solution to their tiring challenge. They discussed, and equally rejected, plan after plan. Eventually, a very young mouse raised up on his hind legs, and proposed that a bell should be hung around the cat's neck.

"What a splendid idea!" they cried.

"Excellent suggestion!"

"Oh yes, that would very well warn of the cat's presence in time to escape!"

They were accepting the proposal with great enthusiasm and applause, until a quiet old mouse stood up to speak.

"This is, indeed, a very good suggestion, and would no doubt solve our problems, he said. "Now, which one of us will put the bell around the cat's neck?"

Moral: It is one thing to propose. It is something else to carry it out.

Cheers!

Reading - my favourite hobby

I loved to read books - mostly fiction. Dad made me a member of a local private library near my school when I was in class V. I think I was the youngest member of the library at that point of time. I remember elders gazing at me curiously when I used to walk around the book shelves to pick up what I wanted. I promptly returned all the books that I borrowed, so much so that the owner of the library got so fond of me and allowed me to borrow more number of books for the same membership fee!

I was a member of the library till class X. Those days there was no TV. We did not even have a telephone at home! We lived in large tea estates, much away from the main town and so the only pass-time we had was playing and reading. There were no children in my neighbourhood to play with, and so I took up reading. Mom was always furious as I would always sit with a book and not help her in the kitchen!

Right from comics - Amarchitra katha, Tinkle, Panchantra, etc, Enid Blyton, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Mills & Boon, Jeffrey Archer, Sydney Shildon...., I used to love reading the whole range of books and comics. I liked ancient stories and fairly tales as well and would even now sit down with a book when I get an opportunity!

Some tales are fascinating and are also powerful learning tools on morals, values and principles. The short stories by Aesop is one such example.

I will try to bring selected Aesop tales in my subsequent postings. Each of them have a moral for children and adults alike, and I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did. You will be amazed at how much these stories can inspire and guide our lives.

Cheers!

 

Handwriting on the Wall

This is another inspiring poem I came across on the net. Liked it, and thought I will share it here.

    Handwriting on the Wall
A weary mother returned from the store,
Lugging groceries through the kitchen door,
Awaiting her arrival was her 8 year old son,
Anxious to relate what his younger brother had done.

While I was out playing and Dad was on a call,
T.J took his crayons and wrote on the wall
It's on the new paper you just hung in the den,
I told him you'd be mad at having to do it again.

She let out a moan and furrowed her brow,
Where is your little brother right now?
She emptied her arms and with a purposeful stride,
She marched to his closet where he had gone to hide.

She called his full name as she entered his room,
He trembled with fear -- he knew that meant doom
For the next ten minutes, she ranted and raved
About the expensive wallpaper and how she had saved.

Lamenting all the work it would take to repair,
She condemned his actions and total lack of care.
The more she scolded, the madder she got,
Then stomped from his room, totally distraught.

She headed for the den to confirm her fears,
When she saw the wall, her eyes flooded with tears,
The message she read pierced her soul with a dart,
It said, I love Mommy, surrounded by a heart,

Well, the wallpaper remained, just as she found it,
With an empty picture frame hung around it,
A reminder to her, and indeed to all,
Take time to read the handwriting on the wall.
                                      - Author Unknown

Cheers!

Equipment

You may believe that others have a better chance in life - that they are better off than you. But this poem talks about the equipment that you already have.

             Equipment 
Figure it out for yourself, my lad,
You've all that the greatest of men have had,
Two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes
And a brain to use if you would be wise.
With this equipment they all began,
So start for the top and say, "I can."

Look them over, the wise and great
They take their food from a common plate,
And similar knives and forks they use,
With similar laces they tie their shoes.
The world considers them brave and smart,
But you've all they had when they made their start.

You can triumph and come to skill,
You can be great if you only will.
You're well equipped for what fight you choose,
You have legs and arms and a brain to use,
And the man who has risen great deeds to do
Began his life with no more than you

You are the handicap you must face,
You are the one who must choose your place,
You must say where you want to go,
How much you will study the truth to know.
God has equipped you for life, but He
Lets you decide what you want to be.

Courage must come from the soul within,
The man must furnish the will to win.
So figure it out for yourself, my lad.
You were born with all that the great have had,
With your equipment they all began,
Get hold of yourself and say: "I can."
                                      - Edgar A.Guest
Cheers!

Fight with Cancer

I came across this poem by chance while browsing the internet. I am sure the verses will give hope to anyone fighting with cancer. So, I thought I'll put it on the blog.

I Wear a Pink Ribbon

A silent killer with no face.
A thief within the night.
A constant battle for my life
A bitter evil fight.

The scars remind me of the day
It knocked at my souls door.
It tried to rob me of my strength
It left me on the floor.

To survive, I had to sacrifice
My Breast and even my hair
It showed no pity as it snatched
These things without a care.

I started to give up my fight
I felt I could take no more
Then God reached down and
Gently picked me up off the floor.

He wiped my face and blew my nose
Just like my mama use to do.
He said don’t cry my child
For I have things in store for you.

I did not bring you all this way
to leave you high and dry.
I love you and you are my child
So hold your head up high.

There is nothing that I cannot fix,
No pain I can’t erase.
Have faith and know that I am here
There is nothing you can’t face!

So then I threw my hands up high
And gave God all his praise!
For my soul has been uplifted
And my SPIRIT has been raised!

I’ll fight this fight with cancer
And I know I will be fine.
For God said it and I know its true,
That VICTORY is mine!!
                         - Kimberly Harris

Cheers!

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

These verses tells us that the past cannot be changed, and so worrying about it is useless. Worrying about the future is pointless again because most often, what happens tomorrow is beyond our control. So, today is the day what we should be concerned about, for today is the day when things can be changed. 

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

There are two days in every week that we should not worry about, two days that should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed, forever beyond our control.

All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed. Nor can we erase a single word we've said - yesterday is gone!

The other day we shouldn't worry about is tomorrow, with its impossible adversaries, its burden, its hopeful promise and poor performance. Tomorrow is beyond our control.

Tomorrow's sun will rise either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds - but it will rise, and until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.

This leaves only one day - today. Any person can fight the battles of just one day - it is only when we add the burdens of yesterday and tomorrow that we break down.

It is not the experience of today that drives people mad - it is the remorse of bitterness for something which happened yesterday, and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.

Let us, therefore, live one day at a time! 

                                    - Author Unknown

Cheers!

Things Work Out

A beautiful poem to give you hope that things will always work out for the better.

           Things Work Out
Because it rains when we wish it wouldn't,
Because men do what they often shouldn't,
Because crops fail, and plans go wrong
Some of us grumble all day long.
But somehow, in spite of the care and doubt,
It seems at last that things work out.

Because we lose where we hoped to gain,
Because we suffer a little pain,
Because we must work when we'd like to play
Some of us whimper along life's way.
But somehow, as day always follows the night,
Most of our troubles work out all right.

Because we cannot forever smile,
Because we must trudge in the dust awhile,
Because we think that the way is long
Some of us whimper that life's all wrong.
But somehow we live and our sky grows bright,
And everything seems to work out all right.

So bend to your trouble and meet your care,
For the clouds must break, and the sky grow fair.
Let the rain come down, as it must and will,
But keep on working and hoping still.
For in spite of the grumblers who stand about,
Somehow, it seems, all things work out. 
                                 - Edgar A.Guest
Cheers!

This is a famous motivational and inspirational poem relevant even today. The poem has philosophy for life and also talks about personal integrity, behaviour and self-development.

                If

 If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master,
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

                                         -Rudyard Kipling

Cheers!

Keep them Close

This poem reinforces how important life is and reminds us to appreciate the special people in our life. Enjoy the words of wisdom in these verses.

 Keep them Close

One day a mother died.
And on that clear, cold morning,
in the warmth of her bedroom,
the daughter was struck with
the pain of learning that sometimes
there isn't any more.

No more hugs, no more lucky moments to celebrate together,
no more phone calls just to chat, no more "just one minute."

Sometimes, what we care about the most goes away,
never to return before we can say good-bye, say "I Love You."

So while we have it … it's best we love it .
And care for it and fix it when it's broken
and take good care of it when it's sick.

This is true for marriage … and friendships!
And children with bad report cards;
and dogs with bad hips;
and aging parents and grandparents.
We keep them because they are worth it,
because we cherish them!

Some things we keep -
like a best friend who moved away
or a classmate we grew up with.
There are just some things that
make us happy, no matter what.

Life is important, and so are the people we know.
And so, keep them close! 
                                   - Author Unknown

Cheers!

When tomorrow starts without me

In continuation of my earlier posts on inspirational poems, here is a beautiful poem which will bring tears to your eyes. 

When tomorrow starts without me

When tomorrow starts without me,
And I'm not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me;

I wish so much you wouldn't cry
The way you did today,
While thinking of the many things,
We didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too;

But when tomorrow starts without me,
Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the hand,

And said my place was ready,
In heaven far above,
And that I'd have to leave behind
All those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye,
For all my life, I'd always thought,
I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for,
So much left yet to do,
It seemed almost impossible,
That I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad,
I thought of all that we shared,
And all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday,
Just even for a while,
I'd say good-bye and kiss you
And maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized,
That this could never be,
For emptiness and memories,
Would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things,
I might miss some tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me,
From His great golden throne,

He said, "This is eternity,
And all I've promised you."
Today your life on earth is past,
But here life starts anew.

I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last,
And since each day is the same way,
There's no longing for the past.

So when tomorrow starts without me,
Don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here, in your heart "

                       - Author Unknown

Cheers!

The Guy in the Glass

I always loved poetry since my early school days. I had such brilliant English teachers in school and college who could narrate them so well. Honestly, I would have pursued English literature, and maybe even  got a doctorate in it, if not for my dad who insisted that I study mathematics and computers! 

My love for poems has not died down and whenever I come across inspirational poems, I save them for reading again. Here is one of  them which is about honesty and integrity to oneself.

              The Guy in the Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn't your Father or Mother or wife
Whose judgement upon you must pass.
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

Some people may call you a straight shooting chum
And call you a wonderful guy,
but the man in the glass says you're only a bum
If you can't look him straight in the eye.

He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest
For he's with you clear to the end,
And you have passed your most dangerous test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may face the whole world down the pathway of life
And get pats on the back when you pass,
But your final reward will be heartache and strife
If you've cheated the man in the glass.

                                              - Dale Wimbrow

Cheers!

Old Man and his Son

There was an old man who lived alone. He wanted to spade his potato garden, but it was very hard work. His only son, who would have helped him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son about his situation.

Dear Son,
I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won’t be able to plant my potato garden this year. I hate to miss doing the garden because your mother always loved planting time. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me, if you weren’t in prison. Love, Dad.

Shortly, the old man received this telegram: ‘For heaven’s sake, dad, don’t dig up the garden!! That’s where I buried the guns!!’

Early next morning, a dozen police officers showed up and dug up the entire garden without finding any guns. Confused, the old man wrote another note to his son telling him what had happened, and asked him what to do next.

His son’s reply was: ‘Go ahead and plant your potatoes, dad. It’s the best I could do for you, from here.’

Moral: No matter where you are in the world, if you have decided to do something deep from your heart, you can do it. It is the thought that matters, not where you are or where the person is.

Cheers!

This too will pass

Once a king called upon all of his wise men and asked them, "Is there a mantra or suggestion which works in every situation, in every circumstance, in every place and in every time. Something which can help me when none of you is available to advise me. Tell me, is there any such mantra?"

All the wise men were puzzled. How could there be one answer for all questions-in every joy, sorrow, defeat or victory. Finally, one wise old man walked up to the king and gave him a something written on a piece of paper. But the condition was that the king was not to see it out of curiosity. Only in extreme danger, when the king finds himself alone and there seems to be no other solution, he will have to see it. The king agreed and put the paper under his diamond ring.

Shortly, the neighboring states attacked his kingdom. It was a surprise attack. Although the king and his army fought bravely, they lost the battle. The king had to flee on his horse. The enemies were following him. His horse took him far away in the jungle. He could hear the enemoies on their horse back closer to him. Suddenly, the king founf himself standing at the end of the road. Beneath, there was a rocky valley thousand feet deep. It he jumped, he would definitely die, and if he recturend, his enemies will surely capture him. 

There seemed to be no way to go. Suddenly, he saw his diamond ring shining in the sun, and he remembered the message hidden inside the ring. He opened the diamond and read the message. 

It read "This too will pass".

The king read it over and over again.Suddenly something struck  his mind. Yes!, it too will pass. He calmed down and kept standing where he was. After sometime, he realised that the noise of the horses were receding. Perhaps his enemies moved into some other part of the mountains.

The king was very brave. He re-organised his army and fought again bravely. He defeated the enemy and regained his lost empire. When he returned to his empire victorious, he was received with much fan fare, and all his people were rejoicing in the victory. People were dancing and singing merrily. For a moment, the king said to himself, 'I am one of the bravest and greatest. It is not so easy to defeat me". With the reception and celebration he got, he saw an ego emerging in him.

Suddenly, his diamond ring flashed in the sunlight and reminded him of the message. He opened it and read it again. "This too will pass".

He became silent. His face went through a total change - from the egoist, he moved to a state of utter humbleness.

Moral: There is nothing permanent in this world. Everything changes except the law of change. Think it over from your own perspective. You have seen all the changes. You have survived all setbacks, all defeats and all sorrows. All have passed away. If there are problems in the present, they too will pass away. Nothing remains forever. Joy and sorry are the two faces of the same coin. They too will pass away. 

Cheers!

Don't Quit

This is one of my favourite poems written many years ago by Edgar Albert Guest. His thoughts still apply today, and it brings you lot of encouragement as you read the verses. If you are stressed and let down, let this poem encourage you to keep going! 

DON'T QUIT

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

when the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

when the funds are low and the debts are high,

and you want to smile but you have to sigh,

when care is pressing you down a bit - rest if you must,

but don't you quit. 

Life is queer with its twists and turns.

As everyone of us sometimes learns.

And many a fellow turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow - you may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man;

often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the victor's cup;

and he learned too late when the night came down,

how close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out - the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

and when you never can tell how close you are,

it may be near when it seems afar;

so stick to the fight when you're hardest hit - it's when things seem worst,

you must not quit.

                                                                                   - Edgar A. Guest

Cheers!

Essence of Trust

A little girl and her father were crossing a bridge. The concerned father asked his little daughter, "Sweetheart, hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river." The little girl said, "No, dad. You hold my hand." "What's the difference?", asked the puzzled father...

"There's a big difference," replied the little girl. "If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go."

MORAL: In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond. So hold the hand of the person whom you love rather than expecting them to hold yours. 

Cheers!

I Smiled at them!

The Sultan of Arabia had grown very fond of Mulla Nasruddin and often took him along on his travels. Once, while on a journey, the royal caravan approached a small non-descriptive town in the desert.

On a whim the Sultan said to the Mulla, "I wonder if people would know  me in this small place. Let us stop my entourage here and enter the town on foot, and then we will know if they can recognize  me".

They dismounted and walked down the main road of the town. The Sultan was surprised to see that many people smiled at Nasruddin but ignored him completely.

Irritated and a trifle angry, he said, "The people seem to know you here pretty well, but they don't know me!".

"They don't know me either, your excellency", replied the Mulla.

"Then, why did they smile at you only", questioned the Sultan.

"Because I smiled at them", said Nasruddin, smiling.

MORAL: Courtesy and respect are mutually reinforcing. Even if someone does not greet you, be sure to greet them. You have nothing to lose anyway.

Cheers!

Learning from Mistakes

Thomas Edison tried two thousand different materials in search of a filament for the light bulb. When none worked satisfactorily, his assistant complained, “All our work is in vain. We have learned nothing.”

Edison replied very confidently, “Oh, we have come a long way and we have learned a lot. We know that there are two thousand elements which we cannot use to make a good light bulb.”

Moral: We can also learn from our mistakes. 

Cheers!

What's for Dinner

A man feared his wife wasn’t hearing as well as she used to and he thought she might need a hearing aid. Not quite sure how to approach her, he called the family doctor to discuss the problem. The doctor told him there is a simple test the husband could perform to give the doctor a better idea about her hearing loss.

Here’s what you should do,” said the doctor, “stand about 40 feet away from her, and  speak in a normal   tone see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response.”

That evening, the wife was in the kitchen cooking dinner, and he was in the  basement. He said to himself, “I’m about 40 feet away, let’s see what happens.” Then in a normal tone he asks, ‘Honey, what’s for dinner?” No response.

So the husband moved closer to the kitchen, about 30 feet from his wife and repeatse ,“Honey, what’s for dinner tonight?” Still no response.

Next he moved into the dining room where he is about 20 feet from his wife and asked, Honey, what’s for dinner?”

Again he gets no response so, He walks up to the kitchen door, about 10 feet away. “Honey, what’s for dinner?” Again there is no response.

So he walks right up behind her. “Honey, what’s for dinner?”

“Peter, for the FIFTH time I’ve said, CHICKEN!”

Moral: The problem may not be with the other person as we would always think, could be very much within us..!

Cheers!

Two frogs

One day, some tiny frogs arranged a running competition between them. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer the contestants. The race began. No one in the crowd truly believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower. Some said, "They will never make it to the top. They will never succeed. The tower is too high!"

The tiny frogs began collapsing, one by one, except for a few who kept climbing higher and higher. The crowd continued to scream, "It's very difficult! No one will  make it to the top!".

More tiny frogs got tired, and gave up, but one continued higher and higher. This one would simple not give up! At the end, everyone else had given up climbing the tower, except one tiny frog. After a big effort, he was the only one who reached the top! All the other frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?

A contestant asked the tiny frog how he found the strength to succeed and reach the goal.

It turned out that the winner was deaf !! He had thought that the crowd was encouraging him the entire time!

Moral: An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day. So be careful of what you say to those who cross your path. The power of words… it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way.

Cheers!

Having a Best Friend

Two friends were walking through a forest. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face.

The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand “Today my best friend slapped me in the face”.

They kept on walking until they found a small  river, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped suddenly started drowning, but the friend saved him. After he recovered  he wrote on a stone “Today my best friend saved my life”.

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, “After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?” The other friend replied “When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it.”

Moral: Do not value the material things you have in your life. But value the people you have in your life.

Cheers!

Five more Minutes

At the park one day, a woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground.  “That’s my son over there,” she said, pointing to a little boy in a blue sweater who was gliding down the slide.  “He’s a fine looking boy” the man said. “That’s my daughter on the bicycle in the red dress.”

Then, looking at his watch, he called to his daughter. “What do you say we go,  sweatheart?”  The girl pleaded, “Just five more minutes, dad. Please? Just five more minutes.”  The man nodded and the girl continued to ride her bicycle to her heart’s content. Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his daughter. “Time to go now?”

Again the girl begged, “Five more minutes, dad. Just five more minutes.”  The man smiled and said, “OK.”  

“My, you certainly are a patient father,” the woman sitting next to him responded.

The man smiled and then said, “Her older brother was killed by a drunk driver last year while he was riding his bicycle in this same place. I never spent much time with  my son and now I’d give anything for just five more minutes with him. I’ve vowed not to make the same mistake with  my daughter. She thinks she has five more minutes to ride her bicycle. The truth is, I get five more minutes to watch her play.”

MORAL: Life is all about making priorities, and family and close friends are  more important that the others, so spend all the time you can with those you love and who love you.

Cheers!

Give 100% in your Relationships

One of the most common relationship dynamics that exists is two people who feel emotionally wounded by each other. They both love each other, and enjoy being together, and yet they keep hurting each other.

Yes, we all love, and we hurt the people we love the most. Why do we do it?  Maybe because we take those closest to us for granted. Maybe they do not meet our expectations in some way, and we end up being disappointed. So, we do or say something in return to hurt them. Also, most of the time it is unintentional. We later regret and try to patch up things.

We need to respect the fact that in an intimate committed relationship, we have access to the most personal and vulnerable aspects of each others lives. We need to treat that as a sacred privilege and with utmost respect. Never ever abuse that gift. We need to learn to express feelings in ways that brings us closer, not in ways that creates more distance and hurt.

So, give 100% in your relationships. If you don't give your hundred percent in a relationship, you'll always keep doubting if the other person has given his/her hundred percent.. Continue to love, even if it hurts. It is worth anyway.

I like this poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox on the same subject. Here it goes.

           Life's Scars

They say the world is round, and yet

I often think it square,

So many little hurts we get

From corners here and there,

But one great truth in life I've found,

While journeying to the West-

The only folks who really wound

Are those we love the best.

The man you thoroughly despise

Can rouse your wrath, 'tis true;

Annoyance in your heart will rise

At things mere strangers do;

But those are only passing ills;

This rule all lives will prove;

The rankling wound which aches and thrills

Is dealt by hands we love.

The choicest garb, the sweetest grace,

Are oft to strangers shown;

The careless mien, the frowning face,

Are given to our own.

We flatter those we scarcely know,

We please the fleeting guest,

And deal full many a thoughtless blow

To those who love us best.

Love does not grow on every tree,

Nor true hearts yearly bloom.

Alas for those who only see

This cut across a tomb!

But, soon or late, the fact grows plain

To all through sorrow's test;

The only folks who give us pain

Are those we love the best.

          - Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Cheers!