ଓଡ଼ିଆ କବିତା "କାହାଠୁ କଣ ଶିଖିବା?" / ENGLISH VERSION "WHAT DO THEY TEACH US?"

 

WHAT DO THEY TEACH US?

What does a dog teach us all?

We should listen to our Master and respond to his call.

We should ever be vigilant not to let him fall.

We should ever prove to him obedient, sincere and loyal.

 

What does an ant teach all of us?

We should ever be disciplined and industrious.

We should never be dampened by any frustrating test.

Under the trying conditions, we must needs exert our best.

 

What does a bee teach us, tell?

We must find out where our success nectar does dwell.

We must patiently fly from blossom to blossom without fail

Lest we should lag behind to collect the sweet honey-jewel.

 

What does a bee teach us, who can tell?

We must ever be punctual throughout the year.

We must be alert and accurate while walking on the time’s rail.

We must ever remember, ‘A shirker of duty is bound to go to hell.’ (3)

 

What does a parrot teach us without ambiguity?

We must plough our brain fields deeper for more impressive yields.

We must love to labour and yearn to learn to be adorned with win-gilds,

For honest toil breeds value, and sans it all other possessions equal futility.

 

What does a koyel teach us with its sweet tone and dark skin?

Sensible eyes lead to ecstasy while  gullible ones prone to sin.

So, we must stress emphasis on internal Beauty that lasts till eternity.

We must measure the worth of a thing not by its look but by its utility.

 

What does the vast sky teach us with its benign, protective hood?

We must come to be of some use for all with our contributions good.

We must prefer to give to take like most of the Nature’s benefactors.

We must leave the earth habitable for the succeeding unborn actors.

 

What does a black and harsh crow teach us every morn?

We must not wait for the reminders to accomplish our assignments.

We must keep our surroundings clean without a slight hesitation.

We must maintain a selfless unity, and save others from predicaments.

 

What does a tree – the Nature’s liver, teach its ingrate beneficiaries?

We must start to extract prosperity-oxygen from the adversity-carbon dioxide.

Harmed, we must avoid harming anyone, and give up disloyalty, cruelty and pride.

We must be useful to the society during life as well as after death like the trees.

 

What do the rivers, seas and the big hearted oceans teach us to practise?

We must flow like them to quench the throats parched or the roots dry.

We must never be narrow minded, greedy and think of our gains selfish.

We must be broad, benevolent and bountiful, or will like dead leaves lie.

 

And what does soil teach us, the sane fools, at last?

We must be as great as She is and must follow Her steps holy and laudable.

We must retain the rare quality to turn the dry deserts into lush fields fast.

We can, so that, make our birth meaningful and our deeds unforgettable.

 

must needs - must necessarily

N.B. – The above poem is inspired by an Odia poem “KAHATHU KAN SHIKHIBA?” written by Mr. Kanhu Charan Mishra, Tangi, Khorda,  Odisha, India, published in the E-Journal “SUNA KULEI” in the January Issue, 2022.

Copyright: Dr. Shankar D Mishra, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India 26.02.2023