Poetry Series Daniel Trevelyn Joseph - poems - Publication Date: 2014 Publisher: Poemhunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive Daniel Trevelyn Joseph(21 December 1945) born in tuticorin, brought up in madurai mostly but studied all over tamilnadu, parents were poor but simple and straight. was eldest of four siblings, and heavy as a capricorn, born on the darkest day of the year 21 december 1945. studied english literature, and taught english for two years. got into ias, allotted to maharashtra cadre, and worked in government till some time ago. since august 2007, retired and working with some private companies in one or other capacity. Used to write poetry (should say, verse?) in 1969, in 1972, then in 1996-97, and now took up in early 2008. feel worried to tell others about this writing but this site I liked to refer to for getting some classical bit or other, and then got tempted to ..and now it has been going on for a few months. like to read gita, zen, osho, tao and matters which treat with things not material. wife and daughter dont think much of either what I write or read...and others' opinion does not matter much I would say if you dont mind! i am bald and bearded, and beard is gray except for black patch around the mouth! Baldness is complete, not one hair. you have to go round me to the back to see some hair on the back of my head! www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 1 04.08.2013 Thought of Dedalus, then corrected To Icarus who flew close to the Sun Till his wings of wax melted, And he fell into the sea, Was painted by an old Master, Brughel? Showing his white legs And the ship saw and sailed Calmly on.A poem was written on it By W H Auden. Daniel Trevelyn Joseph www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 2 21st Of July 2013 This morning the grey umbrella In the sky, trying to touch horizon Started melting with music Of little drum of raindrop - happy listening! It is like an invasion of Earth By arrows made of white raindrops Let loose on the enemy, cooling Him into submission, utter and slushy Birds in the rain don't shiver, Feel cold. You can see them In the foliage only on movement Especially through binoculars. The cause of this thought is the brown Pond-heron, a big fellow, who flew up From the green fen of Guru Nanak hospital To sit on the tree in the middle of water-spread. I went back to that window to find The brown blob sitting on the same branch Waiting for fish, while behind in our kitchen My wife is giving food to the six cats at home. These six are in the kitchen open to drawing-room Puppu and Ammu in the third bedroom Will get food thereafter, and then last The newcomer 'Minnu, come come' outside the door. The attack of arrows is less in speed And number allowing our aircraft to fly, The pigeons, the crows and the parrots To bring tidings of enemy withdrawal. But now the pond-heron is gone, Leaving brown clusters like him Which are fruits of numerous trees Which deceive my eyes as birds. www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 3 Daniel Trevelyn Joseph www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 4 22.07.2013 Two Women Walking, I slipped on wet pavement, No landfall since I had an electric pole To support me - behind I saw two women Rather shocked and looking at my about-fall. I read pity in their eyes, showing World has pity hidden till occasion demands. Daniel Trevelyn Joseph www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 5 A Dark Cloud Sitting on the eleventh floor, I saw outside And felt the part of a dark umbrella High and huge in the sky, carrying lot of water With the light sky beneath all beneath horizon. Daniel Trevelyn Joseph www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 6 A Dream I am inside the moving car, thinking Death is certain if you lose control Over this speeding vehicle- and then, I wake up not knowing for a moment Whether I am dreaming or awake. Daniel Trevelyn Joseph www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 7 A Lazy Living Walk Yellow carpets across the full road As works-in-progress, with copper pods Themselves standing guard as weavers. The lone crow plunges into summer foliage And butterflies pair of brown wings fly All down in the twittering direction of ground. Up I see the white spongy clouds, On a blue sky with a semi-circular one Overlooking, the half-moon in the day. Daniel Trevelyn Joseph www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 8 Adjust “You tolerate, I don’t And that is the difference”, says she. “Because after nine or ten times, your tolerance Bursts its limits, and you lose temper Shout and say hurting things, Make me hot, angry and impatient Because this letting go Is out of all proportion To the event or provocation causing it, Whereas I don’t tolerate and keep quiet; If I don’t agree, I don’t quietly, Stomach or ignore it; I speak out To whoever, wherever, it does not matter. I don’t allow my blood pressure to build up: And if finally I cant change it, Then having let out steam, I adjust Myself to that situation or person: I take it as part of normal life.” I hear this, and keep quiet - tolerate! Is there really a life independent, For words? I can use different words But can we equate one word to what I do (tolerate) , And another to what she does or means (adjust) Neatly, and be satisfied That entire reality has been captured there? If each word stands for specific activity clean, I don’t think it does, but if it does, I want to transit from tolerate to adjust: I wish I knew how to do it. Daniel Trevelyn Joseph www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 9 After A Long Time.... Walked on two sides of tennis court In the lane banked with yellow and pink flowers At the end I saw the squirrel On the tree branch with upturned tail After a gap of five decades, maybe. This fellow was twittering, Reminding me of days When I looked at birds to trace The sources of this sound, Not knowing squirrels produce this. Other than this fellow, there were honeybirds Male and female - male in brilliant dark Green shiny color and so many female Sparrows and bulbuls happily Hopping from flower to flower And the curved beak of the sunbird Poking into those small flowers Without damaging them And only syringing out a bit of nectar. I felt happy, and my head was at ease, Weeks after my brain haemorrhage. In Bhuj in Gujarat for shipping seminar In the company of my lively wife, Tilaka. Staying in Holiday Village Resort, room 503 On Anjar - Galpadar Road, Maghpar - Gandhidham (Kutch) names that Roll on my tongue and memory like in an Epic And the day in Spring was 5th March 2011. Daniel Trevelyn Joseph www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 10 After Retirement I have crossed sixty, attention is failing. Lights are fading, recognition decreases, I feel almost unwanted now and then. Snake of thought-poetry Moving through brain-thickets Flickers - compares responses, Attention and behavior - power and position Were then reasons for people listening to me? Not that I thought it would be different, But it is one thing to know and another To actually feel the let-down, Rather suddenly: as days pass by, Get used to it, as every donkey to its burden. I have joined private firm Where I am respected museum piece With a suitable respectable title Among professionals vibrant, Offering consultancy on infrastructure. Joy to watch young bright minds close, Which I never got a chance to in government: Even if they were there, the distance Of seniority kept them away, I suppose. Today my team played cricket In Wadala East, and won two rounds, To reach the semi-finals. I got bouquet of flowers, and am happy. Different lights are twinkling from setting sky. Daniel Trevelyn Joseph www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 11 Age-Old Indian Problem Caste system is the best, One does what one is good in; Labels don’t matter: but skills And culture i. e. heredity matter. In the few cases where you have More than one skill, the system Should allow you to move across Professions: each you should improve. Wait a minute: that philosophy Will lead to ambition and competition. Once those two move into the field, Peace of mind and content - bid farewell. Daniel Trevelyn Joseph www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 12 Agni-Garh (Fire-Fort) At Tezpur In Tezpur I am, the City of Blood, Also known as Sonitpur, The only place in which Shiva fought with Krishna, Who as King of Dwaraka, Had come to fight for his grandson Aniruddha, who had slept with Usha, the charming princess of Tezpur, Daughter of Banasura, The dedicated devotee of Shiva. In the war between the two mighty ones, The Hari-Hara yuddha, blood flowed Like rivers on all sides, Around this city on the Northern bank Of the mighty Brahmaputra. Aniruddha, the natural son-in-law, (They had done gandharva marriage,) Had been thrown into prison.