All Things Bright and Beautiful!

Hello dear friends, it’s the season to be jolly and thankful, with Thanks Giving , Christmas and the New Years. A final culmination of the whole year’s festivities. We should really be thankful for the food we eat, thankful for the world so sweet and thankful to God for everything. And so aptly starts, from Dec 1-Dec 12 in Lima, Peru, a conference on Climate Change UNFCCC. Climate change is the flavor of next year 2015 !  See: http://unfccc.int/meetings/lima_dec_2014/meeting/8141/php/view/schedule.php

It is all about our world and the environment, so important for the survival of the human race , we have to make a conscious effort for a change. We have to leave a beautiful world for our children, so the time is now. So, what started as a small story to tell my child about conservation and environment, without the computer graphics, I actually started constructing a story and then there was no stopping me.

I wrote a play on conservation, the environment and of course nature, and women as the conservers of nature personified in the heroine, I call Ariyana (not Ariana Grande, name is taken from the settlers which came to India and lived in the forest-the Aryans). I have uploaded on Amazon in the form of an e-book called: Ariyana- The Secrets in the Forest. It is available for a free download as well as my other e-books from  28 to 30 Dec 2014 at: http://www.amazon.com/Ashwini-Sane/e/B00KNNS7OK. 

Gender Day at the conference is on Dec 9  See: http://womengenderclimate.org unfccc

You can also see my page MyRandom Bks for more about the story, Cast of Characters , a pictorial representation of the Heroine Ariyana and a Map of territories, on this blog.

 It is a play for  the youth to act and put up to spread the word of conservation through drama hopefully in an open air, live theatre, which will attract the younger children  towards Nature, Conservation and Recycling, and all the problems without heavy philosophy, and boring monologues. I feel it is no use telling adults, we have to show the children in their own world and without computer graphics.

So friends do have a read, download and review. DO let me know what you think, I am open for all criticism -good and bad!

So Happy Holidays and Best Wishes to you & your families!

Here is a lovely hymn by Cecil Alexander: All Things Bright and Beautiful

The hymn was first published in 1848 in Mrs. Cecil Alexander's Hymns for Little Children. It consists of a series of stanzas that elaborate upon verses of the Apostles' Creed ( Wikipedia)

There is a beautiful version with music do have a look: http://youtu.be/FT_oDqOEGpc

Alexander's text reads:

1.
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

2.
Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colours,
He made their tiny wings.

All things bright ...

3.
The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
God made them high and lowly,
And ordered their estate.

All things bright ...

4.
The purple headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning,
That brightens up the sky;−

All things bright ...

5.
The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,−
He made them every one:

All things bright ...

6.
The tall trees in the greenwood,
The meadows where we play,
The rushes by the water,
We gather every day;−

All things bright ...

7.
He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

All things bright ...

(Amen)

‘Due to the third verse's endorsement of the class system, many later versions and performances of the hymn omit it. The United Church of Canada includes a fourth verse, which seems particularly appropriate to Canadian geography: "The rocky mountain splendour, / the lone wolf's haunting call, / the great lakes and the prairies, / the forest in the fall.’ (Wikipedia)

~*~

Butt Seriously?

Hello friends, you know Kim and her Butt are coming to India for a TV show, or so I hear? She wishes to wear a Sari? Sorry? What for when she has nothing left to show for imagination? This is the best place to show off your ‘butt selfie’ Kim! 

Welcome Kim! Indian women have the best and some of the biggest backsides you can imagine! ( Wrapped up and secure under family copyright laws) Just walk in to the Big Butt…sorry Bigg Boss house just like that, than we will see the bum… sorry the fun!  Am sure a lot of cameras will be ‘behind’ her for all her promos! And perhaps after her ‘public commitments’ she could take up another cause as she has done in the past somewhere else, for all the poor and destitute women in India who have no place to ‘go ‘ to but outside with their backsides in full public view. It will be an opportunity for ‘booty with a purpose’,I am sure all the media moguls  will also Digg it? How about a show ‘ Keeping Kim with the Poor Desi-ians’? ( ‘Desi’- Indian word for people of the country)

But I often wonder, why is the inter net so voyeuristic? There is also ‘sexism’ on the net. Yes it is  more and more a visual medium now, but are there really so many people, men and women, who like to watch the over load of busts, back sides and male torso’s? I doubt it? (Really, there are?). Here is a thought- women have to expose more in the media than the men. A female TV anchor for example is scrutinized more for her hair, make-up ,earrings, choice of clothes than her male counterpart who can just wear a ‘grey suit and tie’ everyday! Want proof? Read this link-http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/karl-stefanovics-sexism-experiment-today-presenter-wears-same-suit-for-a-year-20141115-11ncdz.html

Take a look at the ‘successful slobs’ that we have in the world today. Mark Zuckerberg, President Barrack Obama! They wear the same combination of clothes to work ! Thank you very much you guys for undoing all the work (nagging) we women do to make our men wear some descent clothes! Well it means two things; one their wives have given up (than God help the not so privileged ones), or two, men are born to be slobs. Just ask any man to change into clean, attractive clothes and he will cringe and make a million excuses. Yes, I know, men have to take ‘important decisions’, men are more ‘practical’, more ‘logical’, not ‘high maintenance,’ etc. Is it so stressful to pick out a nice looking shirt, than yesterday’s ‘white with stripes’? It takes only a minute. And so, is it fair to say that the wives of these very successful men and also others do not make important decisions the whole day, that they have time enough to dress in great clothes? You know -silly decisions about what to do with children, the finance, the husbands company AND his home office, his relatives, friends and followers, their own jobs, etc?

Anyways, Kim dear beautiful lady, do drop by in India-guess what is trendy in India- celebrities sweeping and cleaning garbage, and adopting a village, dear-are you up for it? Do drop by, show us a bit of ‘you know what’ but I warn you! You will have tough competition! Coz u know how that song goes ‘ I ‘m all about the bass, the bass, no treble’. http://youtu.be/7PCkvCPvDXk by Meghan Trainor.

So here is a fun poem to read with lotsa coffee! Haven’t posted a fun one for some time! It’s a dialogue between a husband and a wife. Enjoy!

The Color Code

Hurry up darling we have dinner to go to!

Just a moment, I need to choose from my six different shoes!

Six different shoes?

Yes, six different shoes! Am wearing that new cocktail dress,

Oh God such stress!

What goes with midnight blue?

Ummm…Blue goes with white and white goes with blue!

Blue on white,  and white on blue?

Honey, isn’t that like the shirt you were wearing yesterday?

And, oh no, you are doing so today too!

Really? Same colors, I haven’t a clue?

Wear some red, some green, violet or pink?

Why don’t you pick your shoes, we are getting late don’t you think?

I am a man not a pansy or a young dandy on a date!

Come on sweety, don’t make the hostess wait!

Google for the male peacock, the bower bird and the male puffin?

Even the crazy turkey goes around struttin!

Darling, I’ m like the zebra, the fish, the chameleon, I like to blend in!

What’s the point of this prancing and preening?

I know I am married a rough pirate, a cowboy my dear,

But once in a while, wear some colors with no fear?

Just listen here dear, and this is how it goes;

 I got you for my cars, the earrings and them fancy clothes,

Coz once I start dressing all your girlfriends will come in troves!

Then don’t crib and shout and get your mind furiously blown!

So, you dress to impress on my arm, who cares what I have worn?

 Come on quickly, pick out your shoes that go with your dress,

Cause with you shiny and colored I can show off my success!

~-~

Question does an Anaconda have a bum?

Answer:Ask Nicki Minaj

check out the lyrics maybe the answer is there:

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/nickiminaj/anaconda.html

What Do the Stars Say?

Hello my friends, my readers! My country India has put an Orbiter to Mars called the Mangalyaan- YAY! We have reached so far using technology, yet we all are still following the stars from earth and celebrating our festivals, fasting, shopping, praying. Where does science and cultural beliefs, start and end? OR do they merge more and more now? In India, before we get married to anyone,we are cautious about the presence of the planet Mars in the birth chart-well what happens now?  Well here is in your face all Mars Haters! Countries are spending millions to get there so ‘show some respect Mon’ like they say in the West Indies! How much do we believe the horoscopes in this internet age, or do we carve our own destiny? I think, we all, may not be able to stop the turning of Mars or Saturn but we sure can make, create and change our destiny to an extent, thanks to the million miles between the planets and us ,our creator is giving us a chance! So Good Luck to you all! And like they say in Star Wars ‘May the Force be With You’.!

Here is a poem and keep stirring that Coffee!

What do the Stars Say?

To believe or not believe

that is the question.

The moment we come to life,that moment destiny turns,

The planets millions of miles away,

Follow us in their gaze,

Should we believe what they tell us,

or should we find our own ways?

Do the stars guide our life?

Do they define our deeds done

Or should we follow our ,hearts mind or soul,

Or the many planet positions?

The predictors tell you, the past present and future,

But ‘Free Will’,will get in the way,

We get in out lives what we Will,

And the planets keep turning away.

In them does the future lies?

Should we heed what the predictor advise,

or our own?

On our own,

We have to plant the seed sown,

Cut the weeds which have grown,

Pour water and trim hedges,

And make the garden beautiful,

The sun will shine as it should,

Bees will buzz and birds tweet,

Then rain,clouds,snow or sleet,

Go on in their lives,

Each moment unique,

Each moment alive,

Each moment unique,

Each moment our own,

Our own to seek.

Mars Orbiter Mission : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Orbiter_Mission

http://www.isro.org/pslv-c25/mission.aspx

https://www.facebook.com/isromom- This has a great video of water on Mars-do see.

My friends do check out my Tumblr blog I have just started on the link I have given on the right top of this page. It has a collection of pictures and information from some great blogs you may enjoy!

My dear friends, my readers, I hope the football fever we all had, has now worn off? Well we cannot stop talking about it can we? It is as if we want all the problems in Iraq, Israel/Gaza Strip, Ukraine,the droughts and now the floods to go away and to hide behind football! Well they don’t! I wonder if the floods and droughts are a signal from nature/God( or who ever/ what ever you believe in) to wake us up to real problems, we our own wonderful selves have created!

Today I post a poem which I wrote a very long time ago when India had been hit by a giant Tsunami causing destruction and death in the south of India.  It’s written like the poem Rime of the Ancient Mariner, by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.You can have a look at my favourite Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rime_of_the_Ancient_Mariner for the background and meaning of the poem, for the poem in its pure form is on http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173253, this is a great page with some poems of Emily Dickinson as well: 'Tell all the truth but tell it Slant' and 'Now I knew I lost her'.

As for what happened in India during the devastating ‘ChristmasTsunami’ have a look at : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake_and_tsunami

 My poem ( I am NOT comparing myself Coleridge), has two parts before and after, that is, what happened during the crisis and what to learn from it, without any obvious division made. I have tried to make the tempo fast in the beginning and then suddenly slow, as most natural disasters occur. Also it starts lyrically and then it becomes more of a dramatic monologue.  Yes, I know it’s kind of long and preachy!

You know, during the World Cup Football, we all got together to cheer teams from different countries, so we all can come together, but for what? A fight about a round object! Amazing! Aren’t we a confused set of being! Next what Commonwealth Games?

Facts Till Date Published in Media: Deaths in Gaza  600+ civilians,Malaysian Flight  298,Iraq ,1500
Total  more than 3000 deaths in the course of twenty days!

Forget deaths due to famine, malnutrition, crimes of passion and disease.

                       

Well, I am in kind of a preachy mood, let me just have that cup of Brazil bean coffee….no wait it’s too weak, I think I will go for the  Turkish blend! Ja wunderbar!......

Nature's Wave

Water, water, everywhere,

and not a drop to drink,

Water, water, everywhere,

And Oh! Our lives did sink!

All were enjoying the festive season,

All across the land,

Then came that mighty wave,

And stuck us in the sand.

Oh God! What did we do to deserve,

such a  slap so hard?

Where is my house ?

Where is my tree ?

Where are the books and toys ?

Where is my spouse?

Where is my hearth?

Where is my life?

Where  are the children who played in the yard?

Away, away, all washed away,

We all are dazed,

The day passes to the next day,

Land and sea still rumble now and then,

We are now all cramped,

Like pigs in a pen,

Waiting for help and hope,

Help trickles in,

Too late too little,

And then too much!                                                    (Still more reading to go)

Help always comes late,

They wait, watch and wait,

Till the disaster comes,

They watch the disaster,

Till their hands become numb,

‘No, no, no Tsunami or enemy will never ever here come’

And the enemy through history always has!

Nature cannot be stopped.

But, let us pause and think,

What has been so good about all this?

There have been acts of kindness, bravery and compassion,

The world has come together to help and aide,

The affected nations.

Do we need a disaster,

To come and help each other out?                                          (It’s almost over)

Do we need tall towers to fall,

An earthquake, to shakes our senses about?

To help each other and come together,

Only when we fear we will be wiped out?

Tears will be shed in the east and west,

Maybe it’s a test?

A call from Nature,

To make us wake up,

Or, maybe it is to tells us that,

Man tries very hard,

To control nature,

To pollute natures air,

To pollute natures land,

 Pierce through the earth and cut green,

For our own comfort,

And give nothing back?                                                          (Ok,Just a little bit more)

We build satellites and communications in air,

But we forget to talk nicely to others,

We build bridges and building on land,

But we cannot find the right way and develop a good society,

We pack and purify water, oil, diamonds and gold,

 But we don’t try and purify our souls.

Yes,we have come together,

in time of crisis,

But let us come together,                               (You have read so far? Go on it’s almost over)

At other times too?

God helps those people,

who help themselves and others two!

Man cannot conquer Nature,

And that’s true

They say that time and tide wait for none,

And Nature never does too!

Water, water, everywhere,

And not a drop to drink,

Water, water, gone away,

Let us stop and think?

Why is it that all man come together?

Only when we all fear we sink?

Its over! Thank you for reading soooo far down!!

A New Beginning

My Dear Readers, my Friends,

I have embarked on a new and a difficult journey of writing. I would require your help in my journey. I have on  Kindle two e-books for a free  for my friends and readers,from the 6th June to 8th June 2014. I request you to do have a read and give me some honest reviews, which will help my writing. Also tell me if there is any technical glitch during downloading, or viewing.

The titles are : The Terrorist Inquest and The Diary of the Daily Cribber- the link to my page is at right side of this blog or type :https://amazon.com/author/ashwinisane. You can read them without a kindle reader. These books are just an example of my writing, there are many to come.

Wish me luck!

Ashwini Sane

The Voice of Trees

Dear friends and readers, its that time of the year again, when we remember the environment on June 5. The poem is in two voices one of how trees are a part of our lives and the other voice in the poem is the voice of trees, who speak to us. It is in our own hands that the future lies and it is with our own hands that we cut the trees. When will it stop? How much of technology and demands should we have? These are some issues we adults should really think about if we want to handover this world to our children. Do we really need that touch screen bendable mobile phone? Must we always buy a branded plastic bag to show off to our friends?

I think it is time to go back to our traditions which encourage recycling, and grandmas home recipes for cosmetics. Hopefully we can achieve a correct balance of technology and environment friendly products and habits.

Here I go have my filter coffee... oops should I ? I just opened it from a tetra pack and used a a filter paper. Hmmmm?

The Voice of Trees

Oh look, here is our old childhood tree!

And that’s not all, it is made of wood!

The pencil in childhood,

The bed in adulthood,

The stick in our old age,

Slippers of the sage,

In each book and hymn page!

Yet,

We burn! We burn!

We cut, and we burn!

For all the millions to earn!

When will we ever learn?

We are burning our fingers,

We are axing our two feet,

If we burn all the forests down?

How will homes be made and what will we eat?

The Trees don’t speak, but they feel,

Yes, even through their hard teak!

And if they had a voice they would say…….

The Voice of Trees…….

Imagine a world with no trees, just imagine it?

No table to write or discover lands overseas?

No warmth in the cold, no animals in the woods?

No one to give you shade in places where we once stood,

No romance behind us lovely green trees?

No humming of the birds or buzzing of the bees?

No ! You can’t do without us trees!

So please, please, please, don’t cut my roots and my long vines!

Take care of our Earth as our future is entwined!

So please, don’t cut us lovely trees , please!

And such will be their plight as they fall,

We only take but they always give to all,

No wonder! No wonder why,

God has made them stand upright and above us all!