Sonnet: God Knows

God knows my silent tears I shed so oft,
In solitude and secrecy of heart;
God knows my sorrows, grief and feelings soft,
And time to redress them, ’fore I depart.

God knows my trials, tribulations great,
Those pose a threat to harmony and peace;
God knows the seasons when such things abate,
And fosters will-power to keep my ease.

God knows what’s good and best for me always,
And watches me with tender love and care;
God knows what heights I climb in mundane ways,
And sufferings and strife, my heart can bear.

God knows my iniquities, sins I do,
And fills my soul with grace and spirit too!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 3-1-2006

Sonnet: To Heaven

God clears the road for righteous souls to walk,
Removing dangers lurking all along;
He engages with them in loving talk;
And hears their cries and listens to their song.

Leveling paths, without their ups and downs,
God leads them on with ease on lanes so neat;
He guides them through strange lands and alien towns,
Protecting them from extreme cold and heat.

Behold, our Shepherd walks ahead with staff;
His sheep can follow without being lost;
No wolves in sheep-skin or hyenas laugh;
Heaven is only nigh with Holy Ghost!

The Road to Heaven’s narrow but quite straight;
To welcome righteous souls, Angels await.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 2-26-2006

Sonnet: In Strife, My Soul for God Truly Athirsts

When intense strife afills my heart with woes,
And problems of all sorts dullens my mind,
And supervenes insomnia by foes,
In God and prayer, solace I still find.

When things don’t happen timely when I want,
Immersed in grief, my heart seems wounded much,
With solutions eluding, think I can’t,
I plead and long for Maker’s magic touch.

When all seems lost in life on earth to me,
And not a person offers words of love,
In solitude, I suffer verily,
My only comfort is my God above.

In strife, my soul for God truly athirsts;
When sin-forgiven, jubilantly bursts.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 2-25-2006

Sonnet: When Death Strikes!

Another soul has left the planet Earth!
The ones we’ve known are disappearing fast;
Decades roll off like days and weeks since birth;
Death takes our near and dear ones to the past.

Emotions high take on bereaved earthlings;
Belov’d ones vanish quickly forever;
It does not matter if they be ev’n kings;
Death seizes souls both young and old ever.

Yet, some have led a holy life well-known;
Heaven rejoices when upright souls come;
Some others led a selfish life, their own;
Almighty’s mercy could deliver some.

Death scares and shocks the living ones again;
A warning gong puts some in Heaven’s lane.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 2-17--2006

Sonnet: Valentine's Day

Today is Valentine’s Day world-over;
Express your love to anyone you think;
This day you must enjoy with your lover;
A wonderful poem, you ought to ink!

Exchange a greeting to someone you love;
Communicate to anyone you like;
Make peace with friends or foes ’gain like a dove,
Or go around the country-side on bike.

Send enquiries to elders on this day;
Mail precious gifts to ones whom you adore;
Have something kind and nice or sweet to say;
Say ‘hello’! To neighbors or strangers more.

Let love afill the hearts like wild-fire,
While songs of ecstasy play on lyre.

To my beloved wife, Mercy Celestine
Copyright by Dr John Celes 2-14-2006
Doctor- Poet Valentine of India

Sonnet: What joy!

I lost a book and found it at long last;
The joy when I saw it again was great;
I lost many other things in the past;
I searched my house entire like a feat!

I lost my poem new and almost cried;
My heart just leapt with joy when I found it;
I lost my wealth-details and almost died;
God gave them back after I prayed a bit.

What joyful tears filled father’s eyes when came
His prodigal son after many years!
What joy afilled a mother’s heart when blame-
Afreed daughter returned home without fears!

The joy that fills heaven when souls are saved
Cannot be imagined by minds God gave!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 2-6-2006

Sonnet: Things Have Their Right Places

Look not in garbage-cans for books anew;
Wait not for buses in desolate roads;
All morns don’t bring same breeze or rain or dew;
No shoulder can carry increasing loads!

No garbage should litter the house and streets;
All rubbish goes into the right dust-bin;
Invitees only enter any meets!
The soul of man must have God’s grace, not sin!

A burning candle must be held aloft;
Children ought not to show monkey-faces;
All human beings want a bed quite soft.
We tend to keep all things in right places;

Exposed to air, salt / sugar turn to lumps;
Oh, Fie the world that throws new-born in dumps!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 5-2-2006

Sonnet: Growing in Wisdom

My anger lasts for fewer hours these days;
I know the world much better than before;
I too can show people a mask-like face!
In life, reverses hurt not anymore.

Anticipating worst, I carry on;
I see the people’s hearts and wily minds;
Their achievements appear just like pop-corn!
Life’s boulder-problems, powder-like God grinds.

The complex world appears so simple now;
God settles scores in ways, no man can think;
To Almighty’s demands, earthlings must bow;
The train of thoughts God-inspired, I ink.

The things I do must make the world better;
My soul shouldn’t lie in mortal-sin-fetter!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 3-2-2006

Sonnet: The Road to Heaven is Quite Easy for the Righteous!

The righteous souls have God as friend and guide;
He clears the hurdles coming on their way;
There is no fear for them with God beside;
Much skillfully, He holds devils at bay.

Faith drives the upright souls towards Heaven;
Their eyes discern the dangers lurking them;
They do their duty in time God-given;
God will reward them with His diadem.

God helps them reach their destination right;
There is no turning back when God directs;
God is the beckoning force and divine light;
Man’s earthly whims and fancies, God rejects.

Their road to Heaven isn’t so difficult;
The grace of God becomes their catapult!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 1-2-2006