[ Featuring Ravi Iyer ]
Close Your Umbrellas
Just close your Umbrellas, my friends!
Gone are the fears of grim deluge
The gloomy sway of the clouds now ends Why think you still of frail refuge?
Those invigorating morning Rays,
The Heaven's grant alike to all,
Which we have glimpsed not all these days. Descend to free us from our thrall,
To do the right, ourselves to praise,
Or do the wrong, ourselves to blame,
With none above but God to raise
Or lower our dear Country's name!
These shelters keep, Their warmth and bliss Not only from approaching you
But also those who love Their kiss.
If long their footpath you pursue!
They need much larger space to spread
They drip their dirt on neighbour's dress Their spokes bedash many a head
Their stems prick those who closer press.
In gale they turn or pull you down In rain they damp you half or more Their handles pull and bring you frown They oft have scrapes for you in store!
Our bodies and our souls now need Protections of a truer kind
That will not pull us from our deed And will not prick us in our mind.
These Umbrellas with whatever marks, Of whatever cloths or whatever blends Now but obscure the livening sparks So close your Umbrellas, my friends!
