.

Glow

Brave little candle, shining bright!
You send out rays of hope all night.
Within your heart you hold a flame,
A yellow flame, with loving aim,
A flame that banishes the dark,
Dispels despair and lights a spark
Of faith and hope in every heart.
Ignites a love that from the start.
We know it’s from your pure, clear light;
We learn to love and learn to fight.
We see what’s right, we see what’s wrong.
We learn to sing a hopeful song.
Brave little candle, shining bright.
Banish encircling gloom tonight.

.

.

Diwali

a villanelle

Full fourteen years lord Rama spent in exile,
With his wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana—
Even gods must live austerely for a while.

A simple hut in the forest was their lifestyle.
These two princes, Sita, and forest fauna.
Full fourteen years lord Rama spent in exile.

Lakshman made a magic peristyle.
But still a demon, tricked and kidnapped Sita.
Even gods must live austerely for a while.

God-Hanuman with monkey rank and file
Helped Ram and Lakshman find and save poor Sita.
Full fourteen years lord Rama spent in exile.

Ram, Lakshman, and the monkey army meanwhile
Rescued Sita, and returned to Ayodhya—
Even Gods must live austerely for a while.

The years once passed, Rama returned with a smile.
The citizens lit lamps—much joy at this new era
Although, full fourteen years he spent in exile.
Even gods must live austerely for a while.

.

.

Rohini Sunderam is author of Corpoetry – Desert Flower – Five Lives One Day in Bahrain published by Ex-L-Ence Publishing. She is a Canadian of Indian origin, and a semi-retired advertising copywriter. Find out more about her on her blog or on Amazon. 

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12 Responses

  1. Paul A. Freeman

    The Festival of Light, Diwali, like Halloween (when I was a kid in the UK there was no such thing), is now much celebrated in the UK, so it’s great to see some poetry about the occasion.

    I liked ‘Glow’ for its simultaneous simplicity and profundity. One thing. Did you consider reversing the final couplet, so the poem begins and ends with the same line?

    Reading your villanelle reminds me that my own skill in this form is limited and I really should attempt trying one again.

    I read ‘Diwali’ first as a piece of prose to get the story before reading it as poetry. You’ve done a fine job with fitting the story behind the festival’s origins in such a small number of words with a perfect story arc, Rohini.

    Thanks for the reads.

    Reply
    • Rohini

      Thank you for that feedback. To reverse those last two lines, is an interesting idea, but I may need to rethink the entire verse. I find the villanelle challenging. So I will try it and let’s see how it goes.
      Thanks so much for reading it.

      Reply
  2. Margaret Coats

    “Glow” is a charming little candle of celebration. I can see it singing joyfully even as it burns down. In the villanelle “Diwali” the repetitions of the first refrain emphasize the length of fourteen years. The second refrain, “Even gods must live austerely for a while,” is a splendid line of contented wisdom about the vicissitudes of life. Nice work, Rohini.

    Reply
  3. Roy Eugene Peterson

    Rohini, those are two precious poems celebrating the salutary effects of light that are both charming and illuminating. The second poem obviously goes beyond the light and to a lesson we learn that even for the gods there may be some austere and dark years. I enjoyed both very much. You wrote them beautifully.

    Reply
  4. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    Thought-provokingly beautiful and admirably crafted, Rohini! It’s a real treat to see you mastering the villanelle with engaging words of wonder. Happy Diwali! May your lights burn brightly!

    Reply
    • Rohini

      Thank you Susan! The villanelle is quite a challenge for me. But I do plan to work at it so that it flows better.

      Reply
  5. Cheryl Corey

    I also love the simplicity of “Glow”. It has a sentiment that hopefully can carry us through the holiday season.

    Reply
  6. David Hollywood

    These are terrific poems Rohini and your line ‘Even God’s must live austerly for a while’ is wonderfully philosophical. Many thanks.

    Reply

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