The Project Gutenberg eBook of Truth and the Myth: Couplet Quips

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

*** This is a COPYRIGHTED Project Gutenberg eBook. Details Below. ***

*** Please follow the copyright guidelines in this file. ***

Title: Truth and the Myth: Couplet Quips

Author: A. R. Narayanan

Release date: January 1, 2002 [eBook #3009]

Most recently updated: January 8, 2021

Language: English

Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3009

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRUTH AND THE MYTH: COUPLET QUIPS ***

The Project Gutenberg Etext of Truth and the Myth, by A.R. Narayanan

(C) Copyright 2000 by A.R. Narayanan

**This is a COPYRIGHTED Project Gutenberg Etext, Details Below**

Please take a look at the important information in this header. We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an electronic path open for the next readers.

Please do not remove this.

This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. Do not change or edit it without written permission. The words are carefully chosen to provide users with the information they need about what they can legally do with the texts.

**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**

**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971**

*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations*

Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and further information is included below. We need your donations.

Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and further information is included below. We need your donations.

Presently, contributions are only being solicted from people in: Texas, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, Iowa, Indiana, and Vermont. As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. These donations should be made to:

Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

PMB 113

1739 University Ave.

Oxford, MS 38655

Title: Truth and the Myth (C) 2000 by A.R. Narayanan

Author: A.R. Narayanan

Release Date: January, 2002 [Etext #3009C]

Edition: 10

Language: English

The Project Gutenberg Etext of Truth and the Myth by A.R. Narayanan

******This file should be named 3009.txt or 3009.zip******

A.R. Narayanan, of Cochin, India has donated this etext for redistribution by Project Gutenberg. He would welcome your comments, as well as any payment for this etext. He may be contacted by email to: arswati@md4.vsnl.net.in

We are now trying to release all our books one year in advance of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. Please be encouraged to send us error messages even years after the official publication date.

Please note: neither this list nor its contents are final till midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment and editing by those who wish to do so.

Most people start at our sites at: https://gutenberg.org http://promo.net/pg

Those of you who want to download any Etext before announcement can surf to them as follows, and just download by date; this is also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter.

http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext02

or

ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext02

Or /etext01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90

Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, as it appears in our Newsletters.

Information about Project Gutenberg (one page)

We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours to get any etext selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. This projected audience is one hundred million readers. If our value per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 million dollars per hour this year as we release fifty new Etext files per month, or 500 more Etexts in 2000 for a total of 3000+ If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total should reach over 300 billion Etexts given away by year's end.

The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away One Trillion Etext Files by December 31, 2001. [10,000 x 100,000,000 = 1 Trillion] This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users.

At our revised rates of production, we will reach only one-third of that goal by the end of 2001, or about 3,333 Etexts unless we manage to get some real funding.

We need your donations more than ever!

Presently, contributions are only being solicted from people in: Texas, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, Iowa, Indiana, and Vermont. As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states.

All donations should be made to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and will be tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Mail to:

Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

PMB 113

1739 University Avenue

Oxford, MS 38655 [USA]

We are working with the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation to build more stable support and ensure the future of Project Gutenberg.

We need your donations more than ever!

You can get up to date donation information at:

https://www.gutenberg.org/donation.html

You can always email directly to:

Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com>

hart@pobox.com forwards to hart@prairienet.org and archive.org if your mail bounces from archive.org, I will still see it, if it bounces from prairienet.org, better resend later on. . . .

We would prefer to send you this information by email.

Example command-line FTP session:

ftp ftp.ibiblio.org login: anonymous password: your@login cd pub/docs/books/gutenberg cd etext90 through etext99 or etext00 through etext02, etc. dir [to see files] get or mget [to get files. . .set bin for zip files] GET GUTINDEX.?? [to get a year's listing of books, e.g., GUTINDEX.99] GET GUTINDEX.ALL [to get a listing of ALL books]

**The Legal Small Print**

**Information prepared by a Project Gutenberg legal advisor** (Three Pages)

***START** SMALL PRINT! for COPYRIGHT PROTECTED ETEXTS ***

TITLE AND COPYRIGHT NOTICE:

Truth and the Myth, by A.R. Narayanan

(C) Copyright 2000 by A.R. Narayanan

This etext is distributed by the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

(the "Project") under the "Project Gutenberg" trademark with

the permission of Michael Hart (trademark owner) and the etext's

copyright owner.

LICENSE You can (and are encouraged!) to copy and distribute this Project Gutenberg-tm etext. Since, unlike many other of the Project's etexts, it is copyright protected, and since the materials and methods you use will effect the Project's reputation, your right to copy and distribute it is limited by the copyright laws and by the conditions of this "Small Print!" statement.

[A] ALL COPIES: The Project permits you to distribute copies of this etext electronically or on any machine readable medium now known or hereafter discovered so long as you:

(1) Honor the refund and replacement provisions of this "Small Print!" statement; and

(2) Pay a royalty to the Project of 20% of the gross profits you derive calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" within the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return.

[B] EXACT AND MODIFIED COPIES: The copies you distribute must either be exact copies of this etext, including this Small Print statement, or can be in binary, compressed, mark- up, or proprietary form (including any form resulting from word processing or hypertext software), so long as *EITHER*:

(1) The etext, when displayed, is clearly readable, and does *not* contain characters other than those intended by the author of the work, although tilde (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may be used to convey punctuation intended by the author, and additional characters may be used to indicate hypertext links; OR

(2) The etext is readily convertible by the reader at no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent form by the program that displays the etext (as is the case, for instance, with most word processors); OR

(3) You provide or agree to provide on request at no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the etext in plain ASCII.

LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES This etext may contain a "Defect" in the form of incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other infringement, a defective or damaged disk, computer virus, or codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, the Project (and any other party you may receive this etext from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext) disclaims all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees, and YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

If you discover a Defect in this etext within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that time to the person you received it from. If you received it on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement copy. If you received it electronically, such person may choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to receive it electronically.

THIS ETEXT IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS TO THE ETEXT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you may have other legal rights.

INDEMNITY You will indemnify and hold the Project, its directors, officers, members and agents harmless from all liability, cost and expense, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this etext, [2] alteration, modification, or addition to the etext, or [3] any Defect.

WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine readable form. The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, public domain etexts, and royalty free copyright licenses, Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."

PLEASE NOTE: Presently, we can only solicit contributions in

Texas, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota,

Iowa, Indiana, and Vermont. As the requirements for other states

are met, additions to this list will be made.

*SMALL PRINT! Ver.07.04.00 FOR COPYRIGHT PROTECTED ETEXTS*END*

Truth and the Myth, by A.R. Narayanan

(C) Copyright 2000 by A.R. Narayanan

**This is a COPYRIGHTED Project Gutenberg Etext, Details Above**

This is neither prose nor verse, nor a testament, nor tenet, nor quotable quotes.

Quipping couplets flag off a train of thoughts, certain are abstract philosophy; yet few are derisive of social evils, coated with sarcasm.

Traversing through the quips, you will find you at both ends, alternatively, the archer and the target!

You are not alone, you will find me beside at whichever end you are tossed to!

You and me are not the sole souls in its ambit. it encompasses every citizen of the world!!

We mock many truths as myths and try to realise myths as truth mixing both mercilessly, making it very difficult for others to discern between:

Truth

And the

Myth

COUPLET QUIPS

By

A.R. NARAYANAN

26/480, 'Shreyas', Chakkalamuttu Road,

North Fort, Tripunithura,

Cochin 682 301. INDIA

I dedicate this book to that entity who has granted me all mental and physical faculties and keeps me in the world whom I could not meet yet, in spite of my constant search.

FOREWORD

By Dr. D Anjaneyulu, M.A., B.L., D.Litt.

Author and Journalist, Ex. President: Madras Press Club

and

Member: Authors Guild of India.

When Mr. A.R. Narayanan rang me up to ask me for a foreword to his book of verse, I did not know what I was in for. Because I had not met him before, nor had I read any of his written work. But I was instantly impressed by the simplicity and sincerity, earnestness and anxiety in his voice, and I readily agreed.

At the outset, I must say that I was attracted by the title of the work "Truth and the Myth couplets Quips". 'Couplet' reminded me of the heroic couplets of Alexander Pope (Dunciad and the rest) and those of John Dryden (Mac Flecknoe and so on). 'Quips were reminiscent of the witticisms of Bernard Shaw, the epigrams of Oscar Wilde and the paradoxes of G.K. Chesterton. A combination of the two should be quite spicy, I imagined. Nor was I disappointed. For, I found them undoubtedly spicy and readable. The couplets in this booklet cover a wide range of subjects of general interest of God and Man, of life and death, of truth and lies, of profession and practice, of politics and profit making and many other things. The concept of truth and myth seemed to remain upper most in the mind of the author, as when he says:

"In the beginning was the word;…….. word was

truth;

Now word of truth has become old-fashioned myth"

He is refreshingly frank in the expression of his views, be they traditional or modern or a happy blend of both. This, for instance, of God and Man:

"Who created man is unsolved mystery

But creation of God is mans mastery"

"If everywhere the God fill

Where, on earth, do devils dwell?"

The author has no patience with man's capacity to deceive himself and others, and man's flair for hypocrisy. And rightly so too, as we are all sure to agree:

"Say one thing and do something else

Is the first step towards success".

"Man is prisoner of his own mind;

None else can bail him out of the bond

Sometimes, he is philosophical and unconventional, as in the couplet:

"If our God is present everywhere,

Should one go to temple for prayer?"

Or

"Why need middlemen

Between God and man?"

At other times, he is satirical, with elements of irony and sarcasm. But he is always effective, because he is in right earnest.

This might be his first attempt at poetic composition, but there is maturity of thought and depth of feeling, which come from his variety of experience in life. I wish more power to his elbow; and hope that this collection, or may be selection, of couplets, will have a wide circle of readers. The quips are thought provoking, without being too harsh or hurting.

Dr. D. Anjaneyulu

Madras, 22nd May 1995

INTRODUCTION

Look around us, people are busily engaged in many things; serious, silly or sincere; inducing a spurt of smile or laughter; of fun, scorn or sympathy; on our lips. You and me are no exception. We too contribute to others fancy.

"Of God's creations, only man can laugh

For, to be laughed at, he does lot enough"

Laughing at others, we should also be bold to direct the very scorn at ourselves. But many of us simply won't or refuse to in the belief that each one of us is an exception. Laughter is a good medicine and, coming out of the hermit shell, we should learn to laugh at all laughable actions of the self and others. Man is sincere to and concerned only about himself. In his frenzy to own all the comforts and happiness of the world, he forgets his roots, tradition, nobility, culture and obligations towards the society, rendering his every action a ludicrous one.

"Man invented money for trading;

But, on man, money is now treading"

Money has become everything to man and he is today and addict to it. His prayers, religious rites and marital, paternal, filial and fraternal relationships are guided by the quantum of money inflow. Here, in this era, man would do anything for handful of money because money is power.

Man derives all pleasures, respect, opportunities, and even a ticket to contest elections as candidate of a popular political party, get through it and reach positions on the top rung of political ladder by mere might of money. When the moneyed scoop all the fortunes on earth, the poor can only gaze agape at them, with a sigh.

The moneyed may be able to buy everything on earth, but not love. To exploit and live under his opulence, even distant relations and kith around him will pretend to love him. He will live in a fool's paradise believing that all of them really care for him, until the day his last pie is drained off and the love, sincerity and the loyalty of this so-called kith and kin are put to the acid test.

Even after knowing the occult deceptive function of it, man stakes his life in the grand race for money. Blinded by the spell of its tinkle, money becomes everything for him. He plunges into all sorts of malpractice to earn money and to create a comfortable cushion of savings.

No man is an exception to it. However, the most culpable are the public servants that have turned the public offices into private profit centres. Their pray are the poorest of the poor and those who are in distress.

Religious consciousness and respect for human values are overtly exhibited and upheld by him and he goes though all the rites and customs, in the guise of a man committed to social well being, camouflaging the evil intentions that lie deep beneath his heart. The places of worships, priests, charitable institutions and social organisations get profuse patronage from such people who literally steal the show wielding money. The poor are trampled to earth by the moneyed in their endeavour to grow tall, tall and taller, piercing the sky.

As the obeisance for money grew, the religious devotion became a mere ritualistic showpiece without any priming or pricking of conscience. Not only the religious rites, but also man's every interaction with his family, relatives and the society, in general, have become a real deplorable mockery. The sacred profession people select are also being desecrated by taking short cuts to riches at the cost of quality.

Religious fanaticism is another epidemic that has, of late, invaded the mankind. The intolerance of alien faith assumed devastating proportions and threatens the very existence of social, national and international amity. While none of the staunch fanatics have met God and ascertained his identity, they do not realise, all their frenzies to safeguard and sanctify the name they attribute to the God are all ill disposed. The masses follow the religious leaders blindly reminding the innocent children that walked into the back of beyond trailing the Pied Piper under the spell of his magical music.

God and the religions are creations of man for the betterment of mankind. Trifling all tenets and codes of moral conduct of their religion, the fanatics violently impose their ideology on the followers of alien faith and get easily infuriated on expression of slightest dissention of criticism.

Where will this tendency take us? I am afraid, back to savagery. I dart my thoughts towards all social evils, sprouted from the lust of money, egoism, and religious fanaticism, in the form of couplet quips, philosophy instilled and sarcasm anointed.

Many of these couplets are impregnated with occult and thought-provoking concepts and the reader may have to think and think over, even traverse through religious scriptures to enjoy the real kick of it.

I do not know how far I have succeeded in making an impact on the conscience of society and in summoning one and all to throw down their gloves against this social menace.

You are the judge. I welcome your bouquets and brickbats alike and, whichever it may be, I love to treasure it within the inner lobe of my heart, wrapped in velvet, forever.

A.R. Narayanan

OUM Namo Narayanaya! Chanting hymn octave

Narayanan offers at Thy feet, his couplets stave.

ALMIGHTY

If temple idols suddenly start speaking,

All the devotees, from sanctum, start sneaking!

The god who is all pervading

For fear of human, now hiding!

The god Almighty is cemented* To altar, by him He created! (* In Hindu temples, the idols are fixed on the altar by 'Ashta bandham', i.e. eight knots, a rite of cementing and consecration using gum made of eight ingredients consisting of lacs and seeds)

Who created man is unsolved mystery

But, creation of god is man's mastery!

Who is, how is and what name is the God?

Man gives various answers as per his mood!

If everywhere the god fill,

Where, on earth, do devils dwell?

Prayers are like letters sent by post

Some may reach, some in transit, get lost.

Why count thy incantations by rosaries,

To be accounted in Lord's inventories?

So good, you're praying for hitting jackpot,

But, buy a ticket at the racing spot!

The timid bashful lotus, the mud born, Reached the palm of the Lord*, by devotion. (* Hindu God Vishnu, the second among the Trinity, is depicted as holding a full bloom lotus on his right palm.)

Formless god is difficult to conceive

Formation of the formless is defective.

God, like spice to the soup,

Adds flavour to life's scope.

For all our deeds, let Him be patron;

For he shall, all our mistakes, pardon.

Partha* prayed unto the Lord to be his charioteer;

Whom do you opt to drive yours thro' the future?

(* Another name for Arjuna, the warrior hero of Hindu

scripture, Mahabharata)

Rituals are based on solid truth;

The faithless find it all mere stealth.

"Man proposes but God disposes", an adage;

If proposal be divine, even God will budge.

All the bank balance you have piled up

Can't tilt His balance when you are called up.

Only at the hour of calamity

We all seek helping hand of Almighty!

Lord who taught us not to expect fruit of action*

Hath never sought reward for prayers he'd sanction

(* Lord Krishna in Bhagvat Gita)

God is not one we should visit;

Make Him descend into our midst.

When one has to wage a Mahabharatha war

Certainly need a "Krishna" to prop him from rear.

The religions amidst us were not founded

By Krishna, Jesus, Buddha or Muhammad.

Unmanifest will manifest

When atheist becomes theist.

You shall thank God for being generous

In giving you that he's denied others.

God used to come in the guise of man;

Now the man comes in the guise of God.

If "child is the father of man",

Man is the father of God.

Drop the 'I' from "O I'm", "O me", "O my" and "O mine" Remaining is Om,* chanting which makes one's life divine. (* The monosyllable hymn of Hindus called "Pranava Manthra" believed to be the source of the entire cosmos, chanting of which is believed to produce psychosomatic changes in the body)

If our god is present everywhere,

Should one go to temple for prayer?

God is in you and you are in God

But you are you, you cannot be God.

One step you pace forward on the road to God,

You will be few steps nearer to his abode.

Sacraments are not made for God to eat.

In it, man gives himself his choicest treat.

Radha* still awaits, on the banks of Yamuna, That determined not to return cupid Krishna. (* Radha, was the consort of Sri Krishna until adolescence in Brindanvan. When he left for Mathura for good, He promised to rejoin her soon but he never did. She awaits him since the moment He left her. The expectation of sweet re-union keeps her alive and her fondness for Krishna remains fresh in her bosom. So does a devotee.)

MAN

Of God's creations, only man can laugh,

For, to be laughed at, he does a lot enough!

The dawn marks the reign of Sun on earth;

The dust marks the reign of sons of earth.

Only blind love can make us see

God who gave us two eyes to see.

Man is willing to do anything

For the sake of couple of Farthing!

Lady of the house is Lakshmy*, And man of the house is dummy. (* Lakshmy is the Hindu Goddess of prosperity. In India, chaste housewife who is at the realm of household stands sentinel of the moral codes of conduct and, by it, causes the heavens to shower prosperity on the entire family. She is equated to Lakshmy.)

You can buy and own all that is on earth,

But will you enjoy it after your death?

Live, and, while living, earn only for living;

For, you can't carry the surplus while leaving!

From earth, plants produce things useful numerous;

Man only consumes quantity enormous!

The most uncommon is common sense;

And most inhuman is the human.

Man is said to be a social animal

Since, in him, beastly qualities still prevail

Man invented money for trading,

But, on man, money is now treading!

Coming out of the womb

Man walks unto his tomb.

Man who will rest at last in a coffin

Wrests until his last to fill his coffer.

Lord hath rightly named woman

Since she is made to woo man

"Do not expect the fruit of action"*

But be on guard for its reaction!

(Expounds Lord Krishna in Bhagvat Gita)

Day man is born, creator's job's over- Hell with Brahma*, who cares for him thereafter? (* Hindus believe, Brahma the first of the Trinity is the creator. Strangely, He is not worshipped widely as only two temples are dedicated to Him.)

Animals mate for procreation;

Men mate for simple recreation.

Women are no weaker sex any longer:

The wonder pill makes them virtually stronger!

Ministers gladly offer service,

Free at church and for fee at office!

Mother's labour in bringing forth a child

Can't be paid for, even by tons of gold.

Sun lights the world, emitting rays perceptual;

Since world spins and is unsteady, nights do fall.

The lotus, that blooms under sunlight,

Won't bloom at night, if thousand lamps lit.

Attachment to kith, kin and wealth

Brings all the misery on earth.

Against thy wishes, thou grow and get old;

Life flows on its own, to live it, be bold.

Evil sees only viciousness

In the goodness of the virtuous.

You can, well, cork the mouths of a thousand bottles,

But not that of one that always tittle-tattles.

The one, for long, had gone through adverse times,

Be afraid to face even good that comes!

So far, none is born in this world

Whose mind did not, at times, run wild.

None is perfect, each having a blemish;

Even the sun has black spot to tarnish.

Singer wishes to perpetuate his name

Shall stop singing at the peak of his fame.

If tomorrow wouldn't be dawn,

What's the worth of all that you own?

Through mythology we try to know the myth;

Though many of us try to ignore the truth.

I can't say: "miles to go before I sleep",

Because the last sleep is not in my grip.

Behold, if somebody is nobody, nobody respects;

Anybody is anybody, anybody respects.

In this universe of eternal darkness,

Sunshine, at times, brings momentary brightness.

Elation and dejection

Are the mind's self-deception.

We are searching for peace of mind

Keeping it locked up within mind.

What you know now is only a millionth

Fraction of what you ought to learn henceforth!

Better be fragrant flower ephemeral

Than living millennia as granite idol.

Beautiful dame willing for any game

Gains, in record time, all the wealth and fame.

You cannot speak out all that you think;

For, most of them are rubbish that stink!

While mundane life is a myth;

Money is eternal truth!

Follow wise counsel, to the letter,

Even though it always tastes bitter!

Poor know the comforts enjoyed by the rich

Rich are ignorant of poverty's pinch.

Who dives deep down comes up with a pearl;

Who flies high lands with nothing at all!

Boy, titled "Master" grows up to a "Mister"

Can then gray-haired old man be a "Mooster"?

Even wildest fire will itself extinguish

If it has nothing more to devour afresh!

Law of the land is handled by the lawless;

Justice is denied even to Justices!

Towering things are in this world still

That may lean but not at all fall.

Wind blows out tiny lamp timid,

Aiding wild fire, fanning to spread!

Known devil is not better than unknown angel;

For, devil is devil and angel is angel.

Water flowing out, a case for conservation;

Water flowing in may cause great consternation!

Don't say, "a friend in need is a friend indeed"

A friend always in need is a pain indeed!

Failures are stepping-stones to success

If they do not mar your confidence!

The flower and fruit and lamb and chicken, life longing

Fellow creatures men sacrifice for better living!

More and more you own

More you wish to earn!

Classicism is nobility;

Classics live unto eternity!

Gift away what you like to possess

And gifted finds it's useful uses.

Sages say, life is a myth;*

Still, they live in search of truth!

(* Hindu philosophy)

You win, you will be society's pride;

You lose, all society will deride!

My own mind is my enemy;

It plays all the havoc in me.

All your kith are kin,

Till you're wealthy man!

My failure is my virtuousness

In this world full of viciousness!

All of you work for me

And make my life creamy!

Within temple, granite idol is worshipped;

Without, it is mere commodity far shipped!

Nature dame had borne millions of life thro' eons;

Still, she looks Miss universe as every day dawns!

"In the beginning was the word…….. word was truth"

Now the word of truth has become old-fashioned myth!

Judas, not Jesus, was the cause of Christianity,

For, his betrayal led Jesus to eternity

"Searching the Lord is beginning of knowledge"

And does not end until you break sensual bondage.

Light cannot comprehend darkness ever;

If put out, darkness again takes over!

Money is most powerful in this world;

Did it not kill even the Son of God?

Tinkling talk of money

Drips in ears as honey!

If the dead suddenly returns,

Many living will kill themselves!

Sky is a myth and earth is truth,

Yet they seem, meet at crust of earth!

This body is not for sensual titillation;

It is to fulfil duties assigned by the Great One!

People with money and muscle power,

For their selfish ends, tramp the frail and poor!

Evil souls reign this earth, for generations,

Despite our Lord's repeated incarnations!

(* Hindu God Lord Vishnu incarnated on earth ten times)

"He saved others, let him save himself",

Jesus could, had he not selfless self.

Horrid grief is hunger;

The blessed is the feeder.

Haughty fire scales up, burning all that's on its way,

Humble water steps down, to wash earth's sins away!

"Food is medicine and medicine is food",

Gentle food, little medicine, keeps health good!

"Knock! It shall be opened unto you" preaching:

We are searching for doors that open sans knocking!

Our lives are directed or deviated

By certain other, concerned or unconcerned.

"Cast thy burden upon the Lord";

But don't overburden His head!

An important person is respected;

Importance ceased, he will be neglected!

Pest cricket is grasshopper's name;

Test cricket is cash hoper's game

If you are enthralled by somebody's feat,

Know, strong-willed, you also can do it.

If you say, nothing in this world is impossible,

Know, not one, many hands need to make it possible.

Granite decked daily with bed of rose

Shall gain and own fragrance in due course!

Cycling rhythm is pace of life

Beats in peace, offbeats facing strife.

Strand that developed in New York and London is 'Nylon'

Strife developed between Pakistan and India is 'Pain'.

You are warned, "look before you leap",

'Cause this leap should not be last lap.

In India, President can't preside, Speaker may not speak, And Governor should not govern; mere rubber stamps at work!

"Time and tide do not wait for anyone";

After all, who else waits here for someone?

"Marriages are made in heaven":

Spouse to spouse should not make it a hell!

One who cannot use his brain

Will live only under strain!

Don't deride anybody as weakling,

Today's mendicant may be tomorrow's king!

Only that could be yours, which you earn;

What you gained, did you earn?

Man gave God multiple hands* in His picture

To depict the Lord as the Superpower.

(* Hindu gods are depicted with multiple hands)

Accustomed to, even pitch darkness

Could be of perceivable brightness!

Say one thing and do something else,

Is the first step towards success!

Man is prisoner of his own mind;

None else can bail him out of the bond.

May be "Money is what money does",

But it can't buy love, a single dose.

Wealth of learning is intangible

Wealth of cunningness is tangible!

"Thy kingdom come": it is my prayer,

Kindly name me Thy Prime Minister!

"Give us this day our daily bread"

A good lot to last a decade!

Hawks may fly even supine,

Over heap of gold coin!

Criminals are not punished;

Idolised, they are worshipped!

Greatness is quality innate,

Which people try to cultivate!

There should be a river that flows

For anyone to swim across!

Lifeless granite idols

Are gods that save our souls!

All we see and hear

Are all lies, my dear!

Heaven and hell are created by man's talent;

And he can make it anywhere, any moment!

Insulting is the habit of the insolent;

Ignoring insult is the trait of modest!

"Work is worship" rule of the past;

But, now it is "Work for profit"!

Dressed up, spraying fragrant perfumes and made up faces,

Men know not, they are factories of stinking feces.

All the beauty of women is only skin deep,

To enjoy it, men should penetrate further deep!

Nature lavished its resources on man:

Man lavishes his resources in vain!

Human beauty is solely external,

Once skinned, it is only stinking kernel.

Whether offered to Lord or not, flower

Withers away, in hours twenty-four!

Youngsters have "short-sight";

Elders have "long-sight"!

A blind can guide you,

In total darkness!

THINK IT OVER

Often myth sounds truth

And truth likens myth!

What happens if truth and lie vie?

The lie will stand up and truth lie!

Wailed aloud as you came, availed eventful life, Prevailed, you will leave leaving others in wailing grief!

You correct yourself,

The rest will mend itself!

You can assert your right if you are right;

Only can falter when you are at fault!

Choose who loves you

Than whom you love!

We can reap only what we sow;

Fortunate few reap from mere show!

If you work with your hands, looking up,

You will rise unto heavens, and up!

Camphor burns to smoke leaving not even ash and odd,

Emitting fragrance of selfless oblation to the Lord!

Note down, nothing will go into nothing;

If you have nothing you will have nothing!

Let you be punished for default,

But never be it for deceit.

I have rich learning, culture and manners;

But beset with poor food, health and finance!

Be prepared all the while for bitter curses;

Boons may come, once in a while, as bonuses!

Better to soothe the victim of your ill deed

Than to confess before Minister ordained!

I'm a lighted but unburnt wick of yesterday;

Don't throw me out when am willing to burn today.

I had pleasant dreams about life;

It all turned a nightmarish strife!

Muezzins have to call from Minaret

To arouse our prayer instinct?

Which gauge can measure acuteness of pain,

Depth of love and degree of emotion?

Present life is a present of bygone past,

Only purest present presents future best.

Statistics establishes a lie numerically;

The opportunist takes advantage of it cunningly!

Swinging justice's scale

Is offered for sale!

"Fowl of air sow not reap not":

They feed on other's grain and fruit!

"Seek and ye shall find", the Lord sayeth;

But we seek what we can't find on earth!

"Thy faith hath made thee whole";

Now, money maketh all

"Put new wine into new bottles";

Put new thought into newborn minds!

Man boasts, he could land on moon,

But could he, as on land, walk on?

Coin is minted round to roll

From hand to hand, that's its role.

Confinement is bondage,

Even in golden cage!

Someone's mistake of yesterday

Might be social rite of today.

Poverty cannot be alleviated

By preaching philosophy concentrated!

When thy begging bowl is full and flowing over,

You will feel, you are the God, reigning world over!

All of us work for and hope

But only few reach the top!

Man is slave of circumstances

Created by his circumstandees*

(* Don't look for this word in a Dictionary, for it is

coined).

Invention of Zero inspired calculation;

Zero as a wheel had incited revolution!

"Early bird catches the worm";

Early worm walks unto doom!

Resourceful are not successful;

Successful are not resourceful!

To err is human;

To pardon is humane!

Why should purest of all rivers, Ganges, holy

Desecrate itself merging into sea wholly?

Even on udder full of milk,

Mosquito fancies blood to suck!

The event that will make you happy

Might make many others unhappy!

"Drops of water make an ocean",

Drops that drip dry even ocean!

Idle mind is not a devil's workshop

At times, poetry flows from it non-stop!

The wick will burn to ashes in no time

If the lamp lacks oil that keeps the flame.

While ringing in, with gaiety, the New Year,

Grow and show, you are one more year wiser.

You would become only what you can

And not that you wish or others plan!

Despite absorbing hottest rays of Sun,

Moon always emits only coolest sheen!

Moneys black and white, vie each other,

Even within sacred temple coffer!

Do whatever you have to, today, here and now

For, tomorrow is a dream, may not come true.

He who keeps company, in lone dark night,

If dead suddenly, turns object of fright!

With a begging bowl, I vie to reach the gate

Of palace I built* and lived in my birth last!

(* Hindus believe that the soul of a dead person will

have rebirth elsewhere)

What anybody could give in abundance

To others, in time of distress, is advice!

Know, thou were not born nor shall die at thy wish;

Thence, time in between is not thine to lavish!

Don't try to throw stones from glass roof,

Unless the glass is bullet proof!

Disease is always like a guest

Comes at unexpected moment!

You can kick even the air afar,

If it is put in a ball of rubber!

Water flows only on slopes

The life flows solely on hopes!

Wondrous monument for departed wife Tajmahal.

Could she ever enjoy that architectural marvel?

Hot morning news in evening turns cold;

Tomorrow history and, then, tales old!

Building castles in the air, does the idle;

Won't building a hut on the land be ideal!

When thy name scales thro' the ladder of fame,

Know, it is someone else did give thee a name!

One who feels ignorant only can gain knowledge

As empty vessel has enough space for storage!

Life is like a brittle sheet of glass:

Transparent, breaks on being careless!

Even dirty efflux from stable

Holy Ganges laps with no grumble!

"Rolling stone gathers no moss"

It will only deplete its mass!

You have something, you will feel a lot you have not;

When you have not any, will not feel you have not.

Only thro' crooked stairs and power-lifts

Man can reach unto enviable heights!

Souls of amoeba and an elephant,

By mass and shape would not be different!

Nudity is not sex appealing;

It lies in dressing half-revealing!

Man has no permanent foe or friend,

For he has an ever-changing mind.

Woman's bosom is Ocean of Milk for the baby;

Reposing bed, to compose, for grief-stricken hubby!

I don't long for fame as son of my father;

But, indeed, wish to earn name as an author.

"None in this world is perfect" a diction;

But, everyone claims to be an exception!

Man slays gentle peacock to gather its quill

And present a "peacock dance" to show his skill!

The needy nurtures no formality;

Not patience to wait till maturity!

Any event, however long, should end;

Even God's incarnations have ended!

Thoughtless act in split moment

Gets man long years in punishment.

Poor man's mistake could be a crime;

Rich man's crime could be a mistake!

The evil is not evil always;

And the good need not be good always!

One's internal and external beauty

Is assessed by external entity!

If you don't do what you have to do,

Someone will do what you may not do!

Between man and man, man is the enemy;

Man to man, managing man is difficult!

If you go on doing good, God will do you good;

If the God doesn't do good, none would say good God!

If you look once again, what you have done earlier,

After years, you will feel you could have done better!

If you shy ever to make a debut,

Opportunities will fight shy of you!

No wonder continental drift theories stay;

Look at the neighbouring nations drift away!

Woman is undaunted force;

Man controls it by mere farce!

While being poor is not a bane;

Becoming rich is not a boon.

Why need middle men

Between God and man?

All my vices will be adored

If I have immense wealth amassed!

Something is not better than nothing at all;

For, nothing is better than something awful!

Who does not spend, have to spend;

Who spends may not have to spend!

Taxes are levied to feed Government employees

Still they tax public to add spice to luxuries!

Somewhere a tearful farewell.*

Here, a cheerful arrival.

(Hindus believe in re-birth. The dead soul will be born

somewhere else, quite often, immediately).

Truth shall prevail

When all lies fail!

Rome was not built in a day;

But it was burnt in a day!

We don't do what we could do when needed to do,

And try to do what others do which we can't do!

I did not understand what my dad told me;

My son doesn't understand what I tell him!

I should now be loving my neighbour,

A beautiful dame moved in next door!

Talk never and you will have friends never;

Talk ever, friends will be foes forever!

You are not a made yourselves entity,

Society carved out your personality!

If you are fond of the fag's lasting puff,

You'll take last breath in breathless cough!

Man will not learn good things if taught,

Sure will learn all the vices untaught!

On God of heavens I was reposing my faith;

And failed, 'cause I ignored all little gods of earth!

God hath created man to live a century,

But didn't give a performance guarantee!

When I was a child, father was my hero;

As I grew up, to me, he is a zero!

Flesh and fish become delicacies

By cooking them with vegetables!

Lo! How I lost huge sums in interest

Because I had no money to invest!

Only virtuous will own

All the wrongs they have done!

Books are loved by knowledge seekers,

And are shelved by antique seekers!

Hindu tenets say, treat thy guest as god;

We shall, if he pays in Dollars for food!

From financier I don't get aid;

From fiancιe I may get AIDS!

All that had come were bad,

And all to come are good!

All I do is good;

At times it turns bad!

I wish, all that untoward happened today

Should have been a nightmare of dead yesterday.

This birth, I'm the wheel beneath, carrying all load;

Grant me next birth at least as steering wheel, O' Lord!

The blind shows the way

For those gone astray!

When two cons bat and dozens bet,

Million fools squat around as bait!

Neither the born nor the borne

Know why, on earth, they have born,

Bonehead who has no seat

Pounces upon throne to sit!

One who turns lie a truth

Is fit to reign the earth!

God is moulded into an idol

For shaping Him a lifeless ideal!

All the dreams I dreamt about

Came true as nightmares aghast!

Even if others love, if you don't love,

You can't feel the love, for loving is love!

THE TRUTH THAT IS DEATH

Living man hopes for a future, best;

Dying man repents on futile past!

Where do the senses go on man's death?

None gone did return to tell that truth!

Why shower rose petals over the tomb?

Can its fragrance reach deep into its womb?

However fast, through life, we race,

Death will follow us at the same pace!

Dead, we may not be re-born, as legends say;

Our souls, caught in condoms, will be thrown away!

(* Hindu tenets say that every soul has rebirth)

Know, death is not at all a calamity,

It's life's destination at eternity!

If you know wherefrom you have come here,

You will also know, death takes you where!

With death, we all have a date;

When, where and how, we know not.

The one who was terribly afraid of death

Reclines calm and composed on its gruesome berth!

While poor dies like a dog;

The rich dies like a Lord!

Obituary says: the dead attained heaven;

Seems, he sent back a reaching note from heaven!

Man's fear of death

Is source of God.

If now and today I die and go

I'll join manes dead aeons ago!

Blooms meant for propagation

Deck the body of dead person!

The Lord, with His aesthetic touch

Created world, a beauty as such,

FREEDOM

Freedom is not growing wings,

It lies in breaking the strings!

We spent our fifty years of freedom

Building, for our leaders, their kingdom!

We struggled for freedom

And won freedom to struggle!

Fifty years of freedom

Reminds, we need freedom!

We won freedom to put minority in position

Sidelining the majority into opposition!

We won freedom in midnight,

That's why we are still in darkness!

Fifty years ago, we won freedom

To vote against our own freedom!

OUR POLITY

Flying aloft on a helicopter

I can fathom depth of deluge water!

You can vote somebody to power,

But can't recall him soon thereafter.

Tolerance of all other's faith is secularism;

Intolerance of other's faith is seclusionism.

Faltering step in business, you will fall;

Failing step in politics, you will be tall.

Postal stamps are meant for damaging

Faces of leaders by ink stamping.

Political power is real kick,

Under which man stabs at his own back.

I am a V.V.I.P., because I am, er,

A cousin of friend of son of the minister!

Sprawling cremation sites of leaders, sanctified,

Soon will turn the capital, city of the dead.

Democracy is a process by which

Certain men are voted to become rich.

Political leader gives lot of opportunity

To all his followers to make black money aplenty.

Sitting in office, using office, I made money;

Quitting office, wrote of office, and still made money!

All political parties split, split and split-

Like nuclear fission, to gain explosive might?

Best way to hold party members together

Is to make each one of them Prime Minister!

Shameless face has a ribless tongue

Extemporising non-stop harangue!

Born with rich heritage,

Deride rich in knowledge!

The fool who has no seat

Runs for the throne to sit!

Nay, I am not born a tomfool

For people to vote me to rule!

Politician is not magician;

He is only a tactician!

I live here, in a world of politics;

Only politics within my heart, ticks!

The sect that make lie a truth

Are born rulers of this earth!

I say: 'the law will take its own course';

But, in my case, it can take off course!

Nay, not tainted by a scam,

It's the colour of my skin!

I'm public servant doing all your chores

And, for living, made only thousand Crores*

(*Ten million)

You can change the court

But not the decree!

Elections made it possible:

Untouchables are now touchable!

Between the playwright and heroine

Who's the superstar playing hero?

In politics everywhere, election we conduct.

For popular votes, only unpopular contest!

Try holding tricolour Indian flag

From becoming multicolour tag!

WHITE COLLAR

Two men could do the job of one;

The dexterous does the tens' alone!

Salary is for sitting by the table,

To do work, pay handsel, as per table!

The playful could be studious as well,

For, both call for devotion and skill.

Public office always is for private profit;

Treasure hunters! Take to public service soonest!

Perfection is a serious deformity

For it is not money making quality!

If corruption is the curse of society,

It's boon to public servants' community!

Who pretends to be busy as bees

Will be ignored always by his boss!

If you do not sit where you ought to sit

You will find someone else in your seat!

In case you don't fare well,

Boss will bid you farewell.

People qualify for public services

By ticking answers at random choices!

If banks were nationalised;

Employees have them privatised!

The abundance of redtapism

Does not check rampant nepotism!

Enforcers are benefited

By all laws that are enacted.

COCKTAIL

Liquor may be good vasodilator,

But, once within, it is a dictator!

Why dilute liquor before it is consumed?

Because it is all evils concentrated!

If party ends with "one for the road",

Could be party's end on the road?

Liquors are meant to give you a kick,

You drunk, let not others get the kick!

One is pep, two is pick,

Three is tope, four is kick

PROFESSION

Government servants are employed to tell one

Why they cannot do what he wants to get done!

Banker is one who sees pounds of flesh in man

But fails to notice the blood that streams within!

Instead of winning the common man's trust

Banker's interest is in interest!

Trade unionist is one who incites labour unrest

And settles it at the cost of Labour and management!

Court is good to conduct sports

But not to settle disputes!

Advocate is he who takes a quarrel to court

And conducts it until the client becomes bankrupt!

Doctor is a person who fights a disease

And conquers it even if patient dies!

Accountant is trained to do a balancing trick,

Lifting the pane of profit counterweighed by black!

Businessman is busy scooping profits to prosper,

With other's money, while his own idling in coffer!

Actors are paid to depict different person

Of the self, with fan and fare, one the stage or screen.

Insurance agent is a pessimist

Who fears his clients will face a holocaust!

Classical musician is a hoarse voiced vocalist

Deals with tunes in detail ignoring meaningful text!

Architects design castles smooching the sky

Which someone builds and some other occupy.

Roll out a rumour, public will carry it;

Float a company, public will finance it!

By public issue companies make money;

Once issued, it's public make all the money!

When companies do manage to issue,

There come many managers to issue!

Pop is a branch of music founded in the West,

Practiced by the hysteric exhibitionist!

The Novelist narrates a short story

In voluminous book, like history!

Fashion model is a sex symbol,

Dressed up to deem undressed overall!

Salesman is who sell

An ass as a horse!

Medical salesmen teach doctor

How drugs to administer!

A TV serial producer is an entity

Capable of stretching a plot to eternity!

Hotelier is playing host

Entertains paying guest!

ADIEU

I'm here to do only good

To all my neighbourhood!

I may go, one day, behind the thick veil of death;

In these lines, I shall live forever on this earth.

BLURB

This is not a book of poetry, not a didactic literature.

The idiosyncrasies of the Heavenly Father and the earthlings, you and me included, are exposed, with a tinge of sarcasm.

If you don't like any of the sharp, straight and sour quips it is certainly unpalatable for me too, but it is a fact we have to reconcile with.

I have no enmity with anyone who feels targeted and hurt by these couplets; for I know, I myself am the bull's eye!

We should point our index finger against each other; for none is perfect and invulnerable to mistakes or resistant to allurement to eat the forbidden fruit.

Come, have a fiesta, laughing and staring at and pitying and ridiculing us!

A.R. Narayanan.

*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRUTH AND THE MYTH: COUPLET QUIPS ***

Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed.

Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.

START: FULL LICENSE

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG™ LICENSE

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK

To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg License available with this file or online at www.gutenberg.org/license.

Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg electronic works

1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.

1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg electronic works even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.

1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg name associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg License when you share it without charge with others.

This particular work is one of the few individual works protected by copyright law in the United States and most of the remainder of the world, included in the Project Gutenberg collection with the permission of the copyright holder. Information on the copyright owner for this particular work and the terms of use imposed by the copyright holder on this work are set forth at the beginning of this work.

1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any country other than the United States.

1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:

1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg License must appear prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg work (any work on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed:

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg electronic work is derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg electronic work is posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project Gutenberg License for all works posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.

1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg.

1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg License.

1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg work in a format other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted on the official Project Gutenberg website (www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.

1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg works unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or distributing Project Gutenberg electronic works provided that:

- • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the use of Project Gutenberg works calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.”

- • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ works.

- • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the work.

- • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works.

1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.

1.F.

1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.

1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem.

1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.

1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.

1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg work, and (c) any Defect you cause.

Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg

Project Gutenberg is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks of life.

Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg’s goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg collection will remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg and future generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org.

Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws.

The Foundation’s business office is located at 41 Watchung Plaza #516, Montclair NJ 07042, USA, +1 (862) 621-9288. Email contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact

Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS.

The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate.

While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us with offers to donate.

International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.

Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate.

Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg electronic works

Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.

Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.

Most people start at our website which has the main PG search facility: www.gutenberg.org.

This website includes information about Project Gutenberg, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.

Table of Contents

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

ALMIGHTY

MAN

THINK IT OVER

THE TRUTH THAT IS DEATH

FREEDOM

OUR POLITY

WHITE COLLAR

COCKTAIL

PROFESSION

ADIEU

BLURB

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG™ LICENSE