The Poetry of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

In honor of the late Indian president, this issue features several of his own poems.

Rakhi Day is Righteous Day

This full moon day our hearts are in brim Feeling of faith and serenity in mind. We light the lamps and our hears glow Radiance of happiness and peace are in flow. Harmonious homes are like streams of joy Flowing and flourishing the landscape en route. Nobility in heart and character in deed Righteous homes alone make a beautiful State. Sisters will tie the thread on the brothers Abiding them to do only what is right and clean. Put the Kumkum and blessed rice on the head Where will dwell right thoughts and noble action.

Guru Prakasham

Many many years ago our Gurus lit the lamp And the Prakasham was born carrying power of the soul

This light of truth on the lands of five rivers
It orbited and orbited around the sun
Along with the earth that carried it as sindhur
This earthly Prakasham is so powerful
Of human’s universal message of one God
Four hundred orbits gone in no time
The great Prakasham has even out-glowed the Sun
As it orbits all around the sun, even sun bows in enhanced reverence
And salutes the earth, for all that it carries
The Greatest Prakasham of Guru Granth Sahib

Earth Shining in Glory

Our Milky Way is shining,
with millions and millions of stars.
Our beloved star Sun,
along with eight other planets around.
Orbits the Milky Way,
finishes one orbit in two hundred and fifty million years.
Somewhere in the galaxy,
echoed a voice in surprise.
“See there the Earth shining in glory
how come it got its light?”
A sweet and soft reply comes:
“It is not the mere light,
It is the light of knowledge,
It is the light of service,
It is the light of peace.
Specially radiating from Prasanthi Nilayalam
When Earth completes its eightieth orbit
Carrying a great soul in its bosom”

Radiating Message from Sree Siddaganga Maths

You, in front of you, see a sage.
Wearing beautiful spiritual blessings, the sage.
Every day, Almighty has given this sage,
A precious diamond of life.
The sage, strung over thirty six thousand,
Diamonds into a priceless garland of Tapasvi life,
With the message to humanity:
“O my fellow citizens,
In giving, you receive happiness,
In Body and Soul.
You have everything to give.
If you have knowledge, share it.
If you have resources, share it with the needy.
Use your mind and heart,
To remove the pain of the suffering,
And, cheer the sad hearts.
In giving, you receive happiness.
Almighty will bless all your actions.”

Prayer for Departed Children of Kumbakonam

Oh dear little ones! Oh dear little ones!
For you, parents had glorious dreams!
And you were all immersed in your own dreams
Yet, Agni engulfed you and all of those dreams
Taking you to Almighty’s divine presence
Usually, departed old parents are buried by sons
Whereas, Kumbakonam, saw a sad scene!
Crying parents burying their little ones!!
Oh Almighty! Show Your grace on those little ones

And keep them all in Thy Holiest Presence!!
Oh Almighty! Bless those parents wilting
in grief

To have the strength to bear this great loss
May Thy compassion and grace pervade all souls
And bring down the pain and wipe away the tears
Oh Almighty! Show Your grace on those
little ones.

Radiating Message from Sree Siddaganga Maths

You, in front of you, see a sage.
Wearing beautiful spiritual blessings, the sage.
Every day, Almighty has given this sage,
A precious diamond of life.
The sage, strung over thirty six thousand,
Diamonds into a priceless garland of Tapasvi life,
With the message to humanity:
“O my fellow citizens,
In giving, you receive happiness,
In Body and Soul.
You have everything to give.
If you have knowledge, share it.
If you have resources, share it with the needy.
Use your mind and heart,
To remove the pain of the suffering,
And, cheer the sad hearts.
In giving, you receive happiness.
Almighty will bless all your actions.”

Prayer for Departed Children of Kumbakonam

Oh dear little ones! Oh dear little ones!
For you, parents had glorious dreams!
And you were all immersed in your own dreams
Yet, Agni engulfed you and all of those dreams
Taking you to Almighty’s divine presence
Usually, departed old parents are buried by sons
Whereas, Kumbakonam, saw a sad scene!
Crying parents burying their little ones!!
Oh Almighty! Show Your grace on those little ones

And keep them all in Thy Holiest Presence!!
Oh Almighty! Bless those parents wilting
in grief

To have the strength to bear this great loss
May Thy compassion and grace pervade all souls
And bring down the pain and wipe away the tears
Oh Almighty! Show Your grace on those
little ones.