Les Miserables

Thinking about Ajji for no reason (well, I just blogged her posthumously sometime back),
I am reminded of the values she espoused, of give,sacrifice and love.. What was it that drove her
to constantly do this ?? She had no formal education, she read no great philosophies,
yet with her vision rendered hazy by cataract, she would dash off at the slightest opportunity
across the streets with old clothes, money, food or whatever she managed to smuggle
under her bed and give it to the needy, if not atleast feed the cow across the street with rice and banana unfailingly!! She was truly remarkable and many in chamarajpet loved her as the cute lil adorable ajji.. Ditto, where she spent a lot of years in the US, endearing the neighbours,
the doctors and nurses alike !!

Im disturbed today abt such ppl who constantly stake their lives for the betterment, the safety of the others.. Whats in it for them.. Why dont I take up the gauntlet as well... will such a moment ever come..

Was Mother Teresa a Pariah at the Pew ?? Whats with Medha Patkar and the Narmada Bachao Andolan ?? Will she ever succeed amidst all the tripe that prevails in India....

Oh, not to forget all the soldiers who man the border, assembling veritable human bastions,
vanguarding our citadels, and fall prey continuously to the enemy's 'accidental' crossfire..
While we are ensconced and in pursuit of knowledge, opulence and potpourri.

Will there be a denouement ever with the feisty neighbours... Will the children of a lesser god ever get past the malaise that afflicts them on all fronts ever so often... If so, what role will they have to play.. Whats in it for me ! Why am I perturbed.. What a maze it can become..


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The Charge of the Light Brigade

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

1.
Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward,All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred."Forward, the Light Brigade!"Charge for the guns!" he said:Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred.

2.
"Forward, the Light Brigade!"Was there a man dismay'd?Not tho' the soldier knew Someone had blunder'd:Their's not to make reply,Their's not to reason why,Their's but to do and die:Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred.

3.
Cannon to right of them,Cannon to left of them,Cannon in front of them Volley'd and thunder'd;Storm'd at with shot and shell,Boldly they rode and well,Into the jaws of Death,Into the mouth of Hell Rode the six hundred.

4.
Flash'd all their sabres bare,Flash'd as they turn'd in air,Sabring the gunners there,Charging an army, while All the world wonder'd:Plunged in the battery-smokeRight thro' the line they broke;Cossack and RussianReel'd from the sabre stroke Shatter'd and sunder'd.Then they rode back, but not Not the six hundred.

5.
Cannon to right of them,Cannon to left of them,Cannon behind them Volley'd and thunder'd;Storm'd at with shot and shell,While horse and hero fell,They that had fought so wellCame thro' the jaws of DeathBack from the mouth of Hell,All that was left of them, Left of six hundred.

6.
When can their glory fade?O the wild charge they made! All the world wondered.Honor the charge they made,Honor the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred.