Life’s a beautiful stairway-
Zita
Perera Subasinghe
Life’s a long and
beautiful stairway
Each step spells a
day in your life
Sometimes it is a
cheerful day
Sometimes there is
trouble ‘n strife
With each step you
make progress
To reach your
longed for aims and goals
Harder it gets,
worse the stress
Quicker the
journey’s end unfolds
Passing bridge, a green and lake
Drenched by rain and hearing screams
Climb the steps you hope will take
Finally, to your land of dreams
Fear not there is
still some hope
The climb will not
be all that steep
The harder be that
dreaded slope
The sweeter be the final sleep!
Dear Zita, another thought provoking poem from you! Although, chronologically I may be on "that dreaded slope" I still feel as if I am in the first stanza "Each step spells a day in your life, sometimes it is a cheerful day, sometimes there is trouble 'n strife." I plan on taking it one step at a time. Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteYou are a step ahead of most of us, Srianee! That's the whole idea. Let us think of what it is generally on this life's Stairway and beat the demons and stay happy! Well done! More of us should follow your plan.
DeleteZita, a beautiful poem ery appropriate for our age!
ReplyDeleteComing from someone who has tasted life to the maximum (I mean, in an admiring way) I appreciate your comment. Thanks!
DeleteZita, you have this amazing knack of writing beautiful poetry with the minimum of words in a most appealing rhyming construction. The message as ever is clear and strong. Please do keep writing and I look forward to many more.
ReplyDeleteMahendra, you must know that most of the things I know I actually learned or refined by your influence on me, in writing and poetry. So let me say, 'Thanks!' to you!
DeleteZita
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for that beautiful poem. You have created some lovely images and very philosophical too as always. We carry so much baggage with us as we climb and it would make good sense to unload some of it on the way. The baggage we have gathered on our journey. It would be wise to remember we enter this world with nothing and can exit only with nothing.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom
I like to thank YOU, Nihal, as you've taught me so much by your great writing which I truly appreciated reading on our Blog (this is one of the reasons I appreciate our Blog's existence). I learnt a lot from you and from each and every one of our batch mates as reading what all of you have written is so educational. Really, I mean it!
DeleteNihal, I completely agree with you about "unloading the baggage." It makes the climb that much easier! I know so many people who cling to unnecessary baggage that hold them back, and prevent them from enjoying the view at 'the top.'
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteZita
ReplyDeleteA beautiful poem with sensible messages,got me thinking.Cheerful and troubled days; I had some control,at other times unpredictable and out of my control.It is transient and we take another step as life goes on.
Hypothetical question;If we had a system of scoring for cheerful and troubled days/moments,what would be the final score.I guess I would score a duck.
Food for thought.
Hee hee! That's a great observation, Harischandra! But I bet you'll get a lot more than a duck. You've got so much experience that I for one would like to ask your advice before I take the next step many a time!
DeleteBora, here is something for you to exercise your grey cells. The stairway of life should extend in our thinking, to beyond us and involve future generations. We won’t be there to receive their thanks but we should do these things without expecting thanks. The wise Maoris have a saying which I shall translate-“I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past” (Kia whakatomuri te haere wahkamua). The implication is that your sense of time should dissolve yesterday, today and tomorrow into one another and thereby you will respect the traditions of previous generations while also being mindful of of those yet to come. The end of the stairway is not the end of your responsibility. It should stretch beyond, firstly to your family, then to your community and finally, to all future generations. Deep stuff eh!
DeleteMahen
DeleteFully agree, we have to think of the future generations.How about a cocktail of past, present and future to control global warming.Does this fit in with theMaori saying?.Cheers.
Bora and Mahen
Delete"Walking backwards" reminds me of an Independence Day speech made by a then famous politician in Ceylon. "With our eyes looking into the stars and our feet firmly planted on the ground let us march boldly forward into freedom." The sheer brilliance of the imagery was given to us by our English teacher in his lesson on public speaking. May his Soul Rest in Peace
Nihal
DeleteGreat stuff.Walking backwards reminds me of a comment about eyes at the back of the head.I was walking on the pavement in Union Place Colombo 2.In front of me was a man,facing the the same direction as myself and he splashed a bucket of water on to the pavement,I just about managed to avoid the splash.When I complained he replied "I do not have eyes at the back of my head",he was not pleased when I reminded him that he had neck.
Mahen
DeleteI should have added ,although the future is unpredictable, we can see the future from the past and present.
Bora
DeleteWonderful.
we are getting very philosophical! While I agree with the general principle that we must live in the present, I think it is wrongly interpreted by some as "therefore we must not waste time dwelling on the past or anticipating the future". This is not a natural result of "living in the present". To me it is necessary to recall the past and anticipate the future IN ORDER to make the best decisions in the present moment, the only moment accessible to you now, (although we can also debate how long the "present moment" lasts!)
DeleteMahendra, Harischandra,Nihal, I am fascinated by the discussion which has gone off at a tangent to the Maoris looking backwards into the future,with eyes fixed on the stars with a cocktail of past, present and future to control global warming,and boldly walking forward into freedom with our with our feet firmly planted on the ground, although we must not 'waste time dwelling on the past or anticipating the future' for even though we do not have eyes on the back of our heads we do have a neck to pivot the head!
DeleteDid I get it right, I wonder? Well it is very inspiring to read your comments, thanks!
Zita
DeleteIn my opinion you got it right.Agree ,we digressed but we like to keep a discussion going as long as it is inspiring and fascinating.
Going back to the" hypothetical question" in a earlier comment,I consider a final score of a duck or zero to be a reasonable ,particularly when I read about the tragic stories.
Bora, I am sure what you meant was not "see" the futurw but try and predict the future. This works to some extent but is not infallible unless you believe in Determinism, 1.e., destiny is written in stone and is inalterable. I agree with you that it is sensible to make plans for the future relying on current and past information. Determinism removes all incentive and makes one a fatalist - "whenna wena dey wenawamai"
DeleteMahen
DeleteThanks for pointing that out,I agree.
Zita,
ReplyDeleteLovely poem specially for us who are nearing the last sleep.Your photo reminds me of the very long flight of steps in Hong Kong when I went to see my class mate Jemima Jesuant from Methodist College in 2008. Of course it was much longer covering a long distance and right along it was covered. Fantastic way of coining words to rime. Keep it up! Chira
Oh Chira, thanks! Now I would like to hear more about your experience when you visited Jemima in 2008! You are a great writer and you may have a great story to relate about that trip! Let's have it, Chira! I know your way with words, drawing of pictures and going back on interesting happenings. I would be really happy if my 'bit of nonsense' above, as I call it, stimulates writing of beautiful articles from my batch mates! Go for it!
ReplyDeleteLovely,poem,Zita.I consider the steps in the stairway as the way towards not the Heaven,but the house in the Medical World.One would divide the steps into four stages,namely stage 1-5,Stages are 1st MB,2nd MB,3rd MB,Final and lastly Post-Grad exams.
ReplyDeleteSome of us were fortunate enough to bypass 1st MB.At the 2nd stage,one unfortunate failed to ascend and left the Medical career altogether.Was she a "bimbo".I leave it to the readers to decide.
A considerable number slipped and lagged behind.
3rd stage was full of slippery and full of hurdles to negotiate.Some had a smooth climb,when others struggle.At the 4th stage,the steps became narrow,slippery and turtous.We had three hurdles to negotiate and some negotiated smoothly and one student named SPL reached the summit with flying colours.Few followed suit with honours and tail-enders with no colours.SPL achieved all but one prestigious chairs in the house of the Medical World.
Hey that's a smart 'take' on the Stairway idea, Sumathi! And one of our artistic members will surely draw and illustrate it if you write it! Do think about it! And thanks for thinking about this parallel mode for the stairway idea! Hope I have started a trend that will give rise to many original branching out pathways. That's what life is anyway, isn't it? We start on our journey but it can deviate, reverse, forge ahead, slow down and totally stop and hibernate. Thanks a lot for the wonderful variation you have suggested by applying it to our batch mates. Well done!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Zita. I have started learning Hindu, few years ago and switched on to Franch. I also watch YouTube to learn various things from cooking to exercises and languages. I tried to learn the Arabic alphabet some years ago and I started once again. It is entirely a different and difficult language to master without a tutor.
ReplyDeleteBien! I have passed the first examination conducted by the Alliance Francaise. But did not continue.
ReplyDeleteThat's a pity, Lucky! Alliance Francaise is very good. I qualified to attend in London but the trip from Southend to London was too much in the end. But do think of joining the one in Colombo. That's very good too!
DeleteBienvenue, Monsieur Lucky,a`blog.
ReplyDeleteMerci beaucoup!
ReplyDeletejust curious Lucky. what made you want to learn French?
DeleteSorry,Speedy by jumping the que before Lucky.I learned Japanese while working in the VD Campaign in late seventies,before migrating to UK.I have got the hand book with me.When I was holidaying Japan,I was able to show my Japanese skills with the beutiful Japanese guide.That was the first Foreign language that I learned.
ReplyDeleteI do love this conversation! Hey Lucky, Sumathi, Mahendra, Merci Beaucoup! I am very proud of you, my batchmates for your flair for appreciating and learning languages. I have a smattering of French and I got a few words and expressions in Arabic going back to the early '80s. It's never too late to learn a language. Hope there will be more comments on this subject. Sumathi, you must be the only one with any knowledge of Japanese! Well done!
DeleteSumathi, the more you write, the more I am impressed!
DeleteI was able to converse in Tamil with my patients during my hospital work.Working in Deniyaya and Rakwana with a few tea Estate workers of Tamil origin allowed me to improve my dialect.A few yeras ago,I listen to a Professor in Tamil teaching the Tamil language via youtube.I was able to pick up the usage of correct letters in words.There was a Tamil,residing in US who conducted Tamil lessions.I made use of that service as well.When ever I go to the local grocesary,owned by SriLankan Tamil,I made it a point to speak with them in Tamil.They knew that I am not a native Tamil,from my accent.One shop assistant thought that I was Tamil married to a Sinhalese woman,
DeleteI always advocated trilingualism and most of the average Sinhalese,never brothered to learn English& Tamil.I heard that Sinhala students have to learn Tamil as well.Hope that will continue for ever.
Thank you, Zita,I never wanted to boast about what I have learnt over the years.Arabic seems a bit harder to grasp.Hindi is much easier and it has many words derived from Sanskrit.Sinhala is nourished with a lot of Sanskrit words.Ma for mother,mama for mother's brother etc.
ReplyDeleteThe one language I should have learnt is Tamil. I started again s fee years ago but didn't continue. I think all Sri Lankans should learn English, Sinhalese and Tamil
ReplyDeleteSumathi and Mahendra, I so agree with both of you that we should have taken the trouble to learn and speak Tamil. My mum was fluent in Tamil and she carried on long conversations with Tamil people while we watched in admiration. That knowledge came to her from her father who was also fluent in Tamil and conducted trade with them. And now with our generation and our children's it's completely lost. But it's never too late to follow your example, Sumathi! How glad I am that the conversation turned at a tangent to Tamil fluency and its merits!
DeleteI applaud all of you who have attempted to learn other languages. (Sumathi, you have really stretched your mind!) You don't have to have a specific reason to do it. It is a great way to expand one's horizons and exercise those neurons! Mahen, you will be happy to know that in some of the schools in Colombo the students are required to learn Tamil, Sinhalese and English. I only know about L.C. and I don't know how long they continue. (Which grade?) At any rate they are getting more exposure than we did. I remember having to take exams in Tamil because I was in government service for a few years. It was very rudimentary and we didn't take it very seriously! More than 20 years ago, I decided to learn German when it became apparent that my German son in law was planning to join our family. I joined a Saturday class for adults and started out with zero knowledge of the language. I met some very interesting people, and aside from our Saturday classes we had outings to nearby German restaurants and German Clubs that have 'Oktoberfests' etc. In fact, a few years later my son in law said "I was touched when you started learning German, but now you are having so much fun, that I am beginning to get a bit suspicious!" I've stuck with it and even followed a class at a nearby University for one semester. That was a real challenge! Because it is difficult to learn entirely on one's own I also joined a Meetup group in the past, to improve my conversational skills. All these activities have come to a screeching halt now. I try to keep up by doing some drills on line on 'FluentU.' (There are some very good free Apps for learning languages if anyone is interested. Duolingo and Babbel are two of them.) These will have to suffice until I am able to visit Germany again.
ReplyDeleteSrianee, ich bin am meisten beeindruckt. Wie gut ist deine Germa? Können Sie in Restaurants reisen und Essen bestellen? Kennst du all die schlechten Worte, die du vermeiden musst?
DeleteHallo Mahen, sprichst du Deutsch? Oder hast du Google Translate benutzt? Ja, ich kann von der Speisekarte in einem Restaurant meistens bestellen. Ich kann auch leichte Gespräche schaffen. Die deutsche Grammatik ist sehr schwer!
DeleteHallo Srianee, du hast richtig geraten! Ich kenne Vorsprung nur durch Technik, schnell und heil!
DeleteIt is interesting that we all have had an impressive and at times tortuous journeys into language. Although Sinhala is my mother tongue we spoke a joyful mix of English and Sinhala at home. My parents and their parents having been brought up during Colonial times thought highly of English but gave me a Sinhala first name and perhaps realised change would finally arrive. At school English was the official language but I was in the Sinhala class as there were Tamil and English streams too. All my time in the boarding English remained the common language understood by all. I feel proud my Sinhala remained very good all through my school years and recall writing short stories and plays in my mother tongue. For GCE I learnt Pali which helped me enormously to understand the Buddhist scriptures in later years although I had a Christian background. We all learnt Latin but I wasn’t any good at it.
ReplyDeleteAll through Medical School English remained important. On my arrival in the UK I realised I spoke pre-war language and often it was medieval or even Biblical English. I remember using the word “thrice” when I presented a case and my boss said it is a good and acceptable word but rather old fashioned and to say “three times”.
When I married a Chinese girl who spoke Cantonese, the language was a challenge. The intonations in Cantonese changed the meaning of words resulting in interesting and amusing results. My sons speak excellent Cantonese and occasionally depended on them for translations. It remains a great advantage that when I am really annoyed I can swear as loud as I can in Sinhala and get it off my system without upsetting anyone.
As a family we became regular annual summer visitors to Southern Spain for 30 long years to enjoy the sun, heat and the sea. My attempts to learn Spanish wasn’t much of a success but I could get by. What upsets me now is my inability to carry out a conversation and express myself adequately in my mother tongue and also understand Sinhala TV. That is an inevitable result of living away from my country of birth for 47 years. I take comfort that I still enjoy the old Sinhala music from films and radio and listen to them often.
Nihal, I want to congratulate you and your wife for having taught your sons Cantonese. Did they attend Chinese school on Sundays? My Chinese friends here in the Hartford area sent their kids to special classes on the weekends which were very well attended. I know that my daughter's German/Chinese friends sent their sons to a similar school. The Saturday German school that I attended was partly funded by the German government and was set up for German expats as well as others, who wanted their children to have the opportunity for their children to learn the language. They also had several adult classes for anyone interested. My daughters constantly remind me (mostly in jest) that I didn't teach them Sinhala, even though they learned several other languages in high school and university. There were no weekend classes for them and I had enough things to do! As for brushing up your Sinhala you may find TV clips on YouTube.
DeleteAbout English, I had to learn the American spelling of words like oesophagus and Haematology. The Chief of Pathology during my residency told me "Srianee, you are driving the transcriptionists crazy!!" I have been watching quite a lot of British television lately, and have picked up quite a few slang expressions that no one on this side of the Atlantic has heard of. Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to use them. I think they are really rude!
Srianee
DeleteThank you for the kind comment. I do admire your tenacity, perseverance and determination to learn German properly despite managing a home and a career.
Teaching Cantonese to my sons was all due to my wife's grit and persistence. We lived an hours drive away from Soho where the Chinese classes took place. Chiu bought books and cassettes from Hong Kong and got down to business every Sunday. It all began from the time they were born when she sang those melodious Chinese lullabies every night putting them to sleep. She spoke to them in Cantonese almost all of the time and it became their mother tongue. The Chinese are very particular in passing on their rich culture. Despite my not pushing my own culture they have a tremendous love for Sri Lanka and visit the country more often than I do. They pass that on to their own children too.
Nihal, It looks as if Chiu's perseverance paid off! I hope your sons keep up with the language. I will share more. thoughts on keeping our progeny connected with language and culture in an email to you. (I don't want to bore everyone else.) My daughter, Manjula, who lives in Hamburg was also determined that her children would grow up bilingual. She stubbornly communicated with them, from infancy, exclusively in English when all others were speaking German. When my grandchildren were little it was fun to observe them at the dinner table switching from one language to another. (German with Dad and English with Mom and Grandma). English is taught in German schools from about Grade 3, but they had a head start, and no German accent!
DeleteNihal,nee how?.Get your wife to speak to you in Cantonese and you will master Cantonese in 3 months.I know that Mandarin the language spoken in mainland,China.
ReplyDeleteSumathy
DeleteI realise your interest in Chinese!!!
As you know Cantonese is the language in the south and Mandarin in the north. In the 20th century there has been a significant change to Mandarin with the introduction of simplified text. Mandarin is now a more structured language easier to learn while Cantonese has maintained its ancient lingo. The pronunciation is particularly tough and also the tone while speaking. I am not good with learning anything particularly languages.
I spent my early years in Bogawantalawa up in the hills and my childhood friends were Tamil and I was equally fluent in Tamil and Sinhala. I wish I kept up with the Tamil as all I can remember now are the swear words learnt naughty boys at school.
Three from Sri Lanka have reported that the blog has been inaccessible through a range of Browsers. I hope this is a temporary problem and that our blog has not been actively blocked by internet providers ib Sri Lanka. Can't think why anybody wants to block our content!
ReplyDeleteMahen
DeleteThis may be a temporary blip as you say. Or May be there is a blanket ban on all blogs and podcasts in SL. Does the fact that the blog was originally created from SL have a bearing?
Let us hope for the best. We live in interesting times.
Speedy,It may be pure jealousy.
ReplyDeleteDear Zita, I love the optimism that always runs through your poetry- a simple ,lovely poem.
ReplyDelete