MYDAVOLU VENKATA SESHA SATHYANARAYANA - POEMS

​MYDAVOLU VENKATA SESHA SATHYANARAYANA who writes with the penname  'mahathi' is a postgraduate in law and once a practising lawyer in Nellore and later an officer in Central Industries ministry. He retired from Government service in 2014
 'Mahathi' is considered as one of the finest Indian English poets of modern times, whose poetry is replete with high imagery, clear diction, humour, pun and satire. He is adept with both formal and free verse though most of his later works were composed in formal verse.
So far his poetry was published as 6 collections and 3 epic long poems.
His poems were published in a number of print journals and magazines like POETS INTERNATIONAL, METVERSE MUSE, ROCK PEBBLES, WESTWARD QUARTERLY MAGAZINE(Illinois) Society of Classical posts (New York), Bhakti Nivedana (US) and won many prizes. His SUNDARA KANDA was serialized in SAPTAGIRI English MAGAZINE (TTD Publications) and many other articles and poems were published in the said magazine. His poems are published regularly in the New York based journal Socieof Classical Poets and WestWard Qiarterly magazine from Illinois.

​THIS DAY

​This is a fight against a human blight.
A careful walk on swinging long tightrope.
This unique day became an eerie night...
but not without the rays of brilliant hope.

The streets are silent sans the blaring horns, 
the air is clear sans nauseous smells of gas
and the sky has painted again the sacred morn, 
unseen by moderns; as clean as polished glass.

The devil is out alone spreading on streets, 
swinging a giant dragnet in million hands.
Our standoff foils its plans and silence beats
her vile advance with fast mutating strands.

At last let's clap and ring the holy bells
of togetherness, where devil never dwells.
(About CORONA virus)

CORONA

​She is at large
a devil or an angel? 
Solitude among kith and kin...
like cutting cruel chainsaw. 
 freedom seekers
 mute behind face masks
 mudslingers smelling
strong sanitizers.
Street dogs singing doggerels, 
birds chirping first time 
in human jungle, 
and vermins creeping on roads
in procession,  like royal entourage. 
It seems,  
they redeemed their lost domains!
Ahh...one virus
 gang raped a multitude!

VIRUS TRAP
​

​The rain abated.
I kept looking through
The grilled balcony...
Rain or no rain there is no going out...
When hurried inside 
The sparrow couple, rather anxious
And perched over their newly built nest
In the ledge behind the outdoor unit 
Of our A. C. machine.

I slowly ambled into my office room...
My Houston client is shouting still
Over my computer screen:
"I wanted it yesterday."
I gruntled and logged off.
The lock screen showing my new-born
Infant, wrapped in white cloths,
Sleeping calmly oblivious of the outside crisis.
My heart ached...I mumbled
"When can I see you
and kiss your tender forehead..."
In the video call I saw Leela
Looking through a thick layer of tears.
"He's so sweet....looking just like you."
She tried to smile in vain. 
"Often crying loud looking around...
May be for the first touch of his father!
You promised to come back by April first!"
Who fooled whom?

Brushing aside the swarming thoughts
I picked up my phone and called,
Third time that day...
"No flights to Hyderabad Sir."
Same answer.
Summer passed away
 and the rainy season too is reaching the end.
Four months... Couldn't be there
When Leela delivered the baby.
 "What shall we name him?"
Leela was asking.
"Corona or Covid." Leela didn't laugh.
I regretted my ill-humour.

When heard the sparrows chirping 
Aloud in the balcony...
I went out...
The eggs broke it seems...
One of them has fallen on the ground
...A tiny baby sparrow coming out.
The parent sparrows are making rounds 
With clamorous chirps.
With care I took that baby into my palms,
Climbed a stool and slowly placed her in the nest.
Perched on the railings 
the sparrows are looking at me...
Are they smiling? Saying thanks to me?"
I couldn't make out.
The sparrows are now looking straight into my eyes.
No fear in their eyes...no hesitation...
As if I read their minds
I smiled and whishpered 
"Congratulations!"

CALL ME MY FRIEND 
(Rondeau)

​Call me my friend some time. Pick up mobile 
or simply yell aloud dwarfing the mile.
Today or morrow; noon or at twilight, 
 before the dawn or even late midnight. 
It's fine with me, no need to quail,  just dial.

When you're pensive or in a rhetoric rile, 
when penitent or proud; when fair or wile...
when sullen or with delight jumping light, 
Call me my friend. 

When I'm desolate like a flooded isle, 
or hurtling through a crowded hotel aisle-
trust me, your call ignites my inner light.
Sleeps not my eager mind in any plight, 
Call me my friend. 

GIVE ME A DREAM

​Give me a dream and I give you nothings
of sweet and savory splutterings of love.
Spread arms for me and I deck you with wings
to fly over the hues of curved rainbow. 

Grant me your heart and I offer you mine, 
that tiny throbbing lump of pure esprit.
Ye walk with me, into my passion shrine
and I fill you with meads of rhapsody. 

Those lovely nods, those smiles and angry spars
give me O dear-as flowers I return.
With twinkles of your eyes I stun the stars
and paint with red of lips, the morning Sun.

You're like a spring meadow, alien to fall
and I'm an immortal bee, seeking you all.