Kannadasa Dasan writes

WHAT IS THE MEANING?

What does poetry mean? 

Lies or truths! 

Conclusions or confusions! 

What does fashion mean? 

Smokes or drinks? 

Dramas or realities!

What does the city mean? 

Hells or heavens! 

Diseases or medicines! 

What does the world mean? 

Oceans or lands! 

Freshness or oldness!

What does love mean? 

Flowers or thorns! 

Priceless or peaceless! 

What does life mean? 

Dreams or desires! 

Sorrows or happiness!

What does religion mean? 

Oneness or diversities! 

Intelligence or foolishness! 

What does God mean? 

Laziness or restlessness!

Birthless or deathless?

 

Nyasa Negress with Flowers of Thorns -- Francis Newton Souza

Kannadasa Dasan

HOW MANY?

How many villains in the 

Drama of life! 

How many desires in the 

Dream of life?

How many lies in the 

Court of life? 

How many changes in the 

Nature of life!

How many rules in the 

Duty of life! 

How many waves in the 

Ocean of life!

How many goals in the 

Game of life! 

How many chords in the 

Music of life!

How much debt in the 

Trade of life! 

How many tears in the 

Love of life?

How many hurdles in the 

Journey of life! 

How many errors in the 

Book of life!
 
 A Skull on the Open Book -- Vladimir Tatlin


 

Kannadasa Dasan writes

WRITE THE RIGHT 

We have invented digital watches 
But do we know to use the time?
We have prepared many foods 
But do we know to unite and dine?

We have different types of pens 
But we're afraid to write the right! 
We have various colours of lamps 
But do we know where to light?

We often travel around the world 
But do we know our neighbor's name?
We used to say Lord Buddha’s word 
But we don’t have any good aim! 

We care for the bar and the car 
But we give nothing to the poor! 
Good songs and music we hear 
But a poor man’s cry we don’t hear!

We search for the gold all around 
But do we know our mother's worth?
We speak as if we are god’s friend 
But very rarely we speak the truth! 

 

Kannadasa Dasan writes

WITHOUT GRIEF 

Let this world be proud of my birth 
I like to lead a simple life! 
As a stranger I came to this earth 
I try to live without grief! 

Birds of summer sing and fly away 
Yet I remember those birds! 
I will always go in my own way 
I like to flow like the rivers! 

I may be in the darkness of night 
I am waiting for the sun! 
Fear and shame are new to my mind 
I am thinking of the fun! 

I don’t like the sound of sea waves 
I like to remain in silence! 
I don’t know what are human likes 
I like the gentle breeze! 

Let some dogs be satisfied by barking 
Let me continue my writing! 
Let people be happy with their clothing 
Let me spent time in learning! 

This earth is higher than all heavens 
Let this earth be my school! 
Let me struggle for wise and nice things 
Let me not behave like a fool!

 
Peaceable Kingdom -- Edward Hicks

Kannadasa Dasan writes

NOTHING IS CHEAPER

“I'd like to be your sincere student”

A layman has requested a prophet!

“Which is cheaper than human?”

The prophet asked that layman!

“Nothing else is cheaper than me”

The layman told to the prophet!

“From today you can be with me”

With a smile replied that prophet!

Once a king had beaten that prophet

This news reached that student!

He gave treatment to that prophet

And he asked him “what happened?”

“It is God who has beaten and treated”

With soft voice the prophet replied!

“What my master has said is so right”

This is what that student has thought!