{"id":42708,"date":"2015-08-17T00:49:48","date_gmt":"2015-08-17T04:49:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=42708"},"modified":"2015-08-17T00:49:48","modified_gmt":"2015-08-17T04:49:48","slug":"three-poetical-gems-to-ponder-over-on-the-day-of-decision-for-sri-lankas-progressive-democracy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=42708","title":{"rendered":"Three Poetical Gems to Ponder over on the Day of Decision for Sri Lanka’s Progressive Democracy"},"content":{"rendered":"

by D.B.S. Jeyaraj<\/strong><\/p>\n

A<\/strong>ugust 17th 2015 is upon us!<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the Day of decision for Sri Lanka as it faces yet another election to elect a new Parliament for the Country.<\/p>\n

My thoughts and prayers with all Sri Lankans as they cast their votes in what is perhaps the most crucial, controversial and colourful parliamentary poll the Country has seen.<\/p>\n

I took some time off from the hustle and bustle of daily life to ponder over this election.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve had many flaws in conducting elections in the past. In a welcome departure the present one has demonstrated a minimum number of deficiencies so far. The poll certainly has flaws but not so many as in the past.<\/p>\n

Despite these flaws Sri Lanka can be proud of keeping the light of democracy alive.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s election too would not be perfect but this does not mean that it should be written off beforehand.<\/p>\n

In spite of the imperfections and faults Sri Lanka must continue to keep up their democratic tradition alive and strive for greater perfection in the days to come.<\/p>\n

For this as many voters as possible should exercise their franchise. They must vote early and go out to booths together in large numbers.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

This is indeed Sri Lanka\u2019s day of destiny and my heart goes out to every voter who will make difficult and often daring decisions and mark their ballot papers today.<\/p>\n

It is in that pensive, reflective mood that I wish to share three poems with readers. I feel that they are appropriate to read and reflect on an important day like this for the Sri Lankan nation and people.<\/p>\n

ONCE TO EVERY MAN AND NATION<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first is from James Russell Lowell a nineteenth century American poet.Lowell who had been a Professor at Harvard University and was also the first Editor of \u201cAtlantic Monthly\u201d wrote this poem for the \u201cBoston Courier\u201d of Dec 11th 1845. It was titled \u201cThe Present Crisis\u201d and written in protest against America\u2019s war with Mexico.<\/p>\n

The title inspired the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) to name its official magazine \u201cThe CRISIS\u201d. The NAACP is the premier Afro-American organization fighting for the rights and emancipation of the coloured people in the USA.<\/p>\n

The poem is rather long with many parts that may not be relevant to Sri Lanka at this point of time.<\/p>\n

There were however some verses that were modified into a Christian hymn. This hymn relates to the responsibilities of people as they make decisions shaping the destiny of their country.<\/p>\n

It is a hymn often sung in Churches at times of national importance like an election.<\/p>\n

I do feel that it would appeal not only to Christians but all people of goodwill who believe in a God or conscience.<\/p>\n

Incidently this poem-hymn was quoted by Rev. Martin Luther King at the the conclusion of his speech, \u201cVietnam: A Time to Break Silence\u201d on April 4th, 1967 at a meeting of Clergy and Laity Concerned at Riverside Church in New York City.<\/p>\n

Here are the four stanzas comprising this poem\/ hymn titled \u201cONCE TO EVERY MAN AND NATION\u201d.<\/strong> (Women please forgive Lowell. He was from another male-dominated era)<\/p>\n

Stanza 1:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide,
\nIn the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side;
\nSome great cause, some great decision, offering each the bloom or blight,
\nAnd the choice goes by forever, \u2019twixt that darkness and that light.<\/em><\/p>\n

Stanza 2:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Then to side with truth is noble, when we share her wretched crust,
\nEre her cause bring fame and profit, and \u2019tis prosperous to be just;
\nThen it is the brave man chooses while the coward stands aside,
\nTill the multitude make virtue of the faith they had denied.<\/em><\/p>\n

Stanza 3:<\/strong><\/p>\n

By the light of burning martyrs, Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track,
\nToiling up new Calv\u2019ries ever with the cross that turns not back;
\nNew occasions teach new duties, time makes ancient good uncouth,
\nThey must upward still and onward, who would keep abreast of truth.<\/em><\/p>\n

Stanza 4:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Though the cause of evil prosper, yet the truth alone is strong;
\nThough her portion be the scaffold, and upon the throne be wrong;
\nYet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown,
\nStandeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

WHERE THE MIND IS WITHOUT FEAR<\/strong><\/p>\n

The second poem I want to share with you all is from someone very well known in Sri Lanka. It\u2019s from Rabindranath Tagore and I know a whole lot of peple are familiar with this particular poem.<\/p>\n

Tagore as is known was a Bengali and wrote poetry in the flowery Bengali language. An anthology of 103 of his poems were published as the \u201cGitanjali\u201d and was translated into English by the poet himself.
\n\u201cGitanjali\u201d earned Tagore the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913.<\/p>\n

Interestingly enough Tagore\u2019s poems are sung as national anthems by two countries. \u201cJana Gana Mana\u201d in India and \u201cAmar Shonar Bangla\u201d in Bangla Desh.<\/p>\n

The poem I present here is \u201cChitto Jetha Bhayashunyo\u201d (where the mind is without fear). It was written before Indian Independence from Britain and articulates the vision of Tagore for Free India.<\/p>\n

This poem is one of the most well-known of Tagore\u2019s creations and one of my favourites.<\/p>\n

I do think it\u2019s appropriate for Sri Lanka at this juncture. Here then it is \u2013<\/p>\n


\n\u201cTHE MIND WITHOUT FEAR\u201d-<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
\nWhere knowledge is free;
\nWhere the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
\nWhere words come out from the depth of truth;
\nWhere tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
\nWhere the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
\nWhere the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action\u2026.
\nInto that heaven of freedom, my father, let my country awake\u201d.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN<\/strong><\/p>\n

The third poem I would like to share with readers is also from an American poet the famous Robert Frost. He has been one of America\u2019s frequently quoted poets.<\/p>\n

Robet Lee Frost who won four Pulitzer prizes for poetry was born in California but lived in Massachusetts . Many of his poems were based on rural life in New England .They were used often to deal with complex philosophical themes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe road not taken\u201d by Frost is a poem published in 1916 in the anthology \u201cMountain Interval\u201d. It\u2019s the first in the volume.<\/p>\n

Apparently Frost used to take long walks with his friend and fellow poet Edward Thomas in the countryside.Thomas at the end of a walk would often complain that they should have taken another path.<\/p>\n

This amused Frost and the poem was a gentle swipe at his friend\u2019s pet peeve. However the poem was perceived to be of greater depth and regarded as inspirational.<\/p>\n

Many regard it as a paean to individual freedom, independence of action and choice. According to some it illustrates \u201cthat once one takes a certain road, there is no turning back. Although one might change paths later on, the past cannot be changed. It can be seen as showing that choice is very important, and is a thing to be considered\u201d.<\/p>\n

I do think the question of choice in deciding which path to pursue is of paramount importance to the Sri Lankan people as they go to the polling booths today to make their choice and decide upon the future course of the Country.<\/p>\n

Here then are the verses from \u201cTHE ROAD NOT TAKEN\u201d<\/strong> by Robert Frost:<\/p>\n

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
\nAnd sorry I could not travel both
\nAnd be one traveler, long I stood
\nAnd looked down one as far as I could
\nTo where it bent in the undergrowth;<\/p>\n

Then took the other, as just as fair
\nAnd having perhaps the better claim,
\nBecause it was grassy and wanted wear;
\nThough as for that, the passing there
\nHad worn them really about the same,<\/p>\n

And both that morning equally lay
\nIn leaves no step had trodden black.
\nOh, I kept the first for another day!
\nYet knowing how way leads on to way,
\nI doubted if I should ever come back.<\/p>\n

I shall be telling this with a sigh
\nSomewhere ages and ages hence:
\ntwo roads diverged in a wood, and I
\nI took the one less traveled by,
\nAnd that has made all the difference\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

I do hope that these poems would be of some relevance to readers .On that poetic note I take leave with the fervent hope that my people would make an informed , courageous choice on this D-day.<\/p>\n

D.B.S.Jeyaraj can be reached at dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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by D.B.S. Jeyaraj August 17th 2015 is upon us! It\u2019s the Day of decision for Sri Lanka as it faces yet another election to elect a new Parliament for the Country. My thoughts and prayers with all Sri Lankans as they cast their votes in what is perhaps the most crucial, controversial and colourful parliamentary …<\/p>\n

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