Life Quote

Copyright©2015VeeraMahal Franklin

Pope FRANCIS for Hope

Pope Francis
 Pope for Hope!

Had A Red Carpet Welcome
As he landed today in US soil
Receved in person 
By none other than Our own...

President O'bama
President for Change!

The Humble Pope
Humbled The President...

Who by the way...
Don't forget
Won the Nobel Prize for Peace!


Peace & Hope are GOOD change/currency for the World... 

Let's HOPE for PEACE for ALL... ACROSS THE WORLD!!!

Copyright©2015VeeraMahal Franklin

Paul Revere

Remember him...?  

A responsible act of a single person could save the country, the people and the course of history!



Copyright©2015VeeraMahal Franklin

Tennessee Author Book Fair

Copyright©2015VeeraMahal Franklin

Pickles & Spice

Pickles & Spice

Mother,

I have no meals go by
Without adding a pickle
Made of recipes you taught me
Reviving your memory vividly be

Poetry copyright (c)2014Veerajar

We may have lost a dear one. But, the sweet memories do help us through...

VeeraMahal FRANKLIN

Blessed... Blessed... New Year, 2014!

Have A Blessed New Year, 2014!

Copyright ©VeeraMahal Franklin 2014

African Elephant Haiku

African Elephant Haiku!

You Trumphet--
Trying to raise 
the fallen...
Dry white bones!

Poetry Copyright
©2013VeerajaR
www.joypoet.com 







Have you read 'JOY of BEING' by VeerajaR - poetry for the Heart, Mind & Spirit?

Now available (with preview) at an introductory sale price on Amazon.com

Copyright©2013VeeraMahal Franklin

JOY of BEING: Uplifting Poetry!

'JOY of BEING' by VeerajaR
receives raving reviews....

To preview and ORDER the book
go to: 

http://www.amazon.com/Joy-Being-Poetry-Heart-Spirit/dp/1484086260


Spread and Share the 'JOY!'






Copyright©2013VeeraMahal Franklin

Dad, if Only...

Blessed be the dad 
Who is present...
If even
In heart and spirit!

Blessed be the dad 
Who is not... 
If only
Because of the call of duty!

Copyright©2013VeeraMahal Franklin

Green Apple Treat!

She loves to play balls: she surveys the garden and brings in the roundest apples, tomatoes or squash she could find...

But, of course she savors the apples & tomatoes... before devouring them!

I'm sure you can see how she's savoring the apple. The way her eyes rolling up thoughts in her brain, focused with ears let down and paws firmly grounded...
Copyright©2012VeeraMahal Franklin 

Cherry Blossom Festival

As Cherry blossoms along the path

Ask anew...

Copyright ©2012VeeraMahal Franklin

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS...

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Yule logs and Ginger dough

If we share and count everyday

Blessings from high above

It's Christmas Everyday!

Copyright©2011 by Veeramahal Franklin

Thanksgiving-2011

Big or small

Come you and all

Bask in the sun - and

Comb full of honey

Bee and you

Can feast together - and

Bless the one who made us all!

Copyright ©2011 VeeraMahal Franklin

An Invitation!

to my mystic world...

Today is All Saints Day! What they all have in common is simplified life and spirituality...

This is as close I could get!

Copyright©2011 VeeraMahal Franklin

Counting The Blessings!

Spring has thundered from
Sky, streaking lightenings and
Sweeping away townships with
Surplus of tornadoes... overnight!

Showing the show is not ours--
Small specks--in the universe. But,
Spring blooms and bird calls
Still resonate bright and lively!

Secure on blossoming cherry
Search coos of a dove echoes...
Steering me up from slumber
Sharp at six, I thank GOD!

Copyright©2011 VeeraMahal FRANKLIN

Snow and Me

The climate is changing, but cooler, everywhere! From snowing heavily in Tennessee to 18F in Colombo. Heavy showers and flooding seems to affect Australia to Ceylon. Whatever happened to the global warming? Is it the domino effect of global warming?

It is getting colder and snowing heavily in Tennessee each year. TN looks a lot like Wisconsin when covered in snow. A lot like WI! I thought I moved away from the cold winter wonderland to warmer climate---light leather-jacket winters.

Alas...! Snow has followed me all the way to TN. But, it's not all that bad... you see. We were blessed with a beautiful WHITE Christmas!!! Call it... a picture perfect or rather Christmas card perfect!!

Copyright©2011 VeeraMahal Franklin

Before The Red Walls!

I just came across this picture of our kitchen before my son "J" decided to paint it RED while we were vacationing in CANADA. An year ago my boys arranged us a weekend getaway, then picked up my favorite antiques which they thought were out-of-place and have made a generous donation to goodwill!

I was so... upset, but thought there was a lesson to learn: learning to let go. If I died the next day I would have had to leave them behind anyway. My friends who visited recently commented that without my antiques the house looks a little empty. I laughed and said of course but I am making up for the antiques... myself, in a way!

Don't believe me though---I really don't think that I ever get old!

VeeraMahal FRANKLIN

We woke up!

I have been able to read quite a few remarkable books lately, having some "time" thrown onto my lap. And finally I am convinced "New York Times Bestseller" really means something: ripe and delicious reading- not just satisfying, but literally soul probing!

The book "same kind of different As me" is a remarkable true story, a very spiritual tapestry woven by the intertwined lives of Denver Moore, a modern-day slave, and Ron Hall an affluent art dealer and his pretty, and intelligent turned pious, wife Debbie. It is amazing how the couple's charitable efforts towards Denver turned out to be spiritual lessons learned and often taught by this uneducated street hardened vagabond. These lessons and trust gained of the vagrants whom the couple thought they were saving/serving, actually gave back more through unconditional love and prayers for Debbie during her struggle with cancer. Those that seemed to have nothing gave abundantly through their prayers and vigil.

I love the part where Debbie, seeking to collect spiritual beads everyday, finds out the mystery behind a desperately stoned drug addict's happy smile. He says "I woke up today!" Touched deeply by this naked truth, the couple started greeting each other every morning with a cheerful "we woke up!"

This simple fact--being able to wake up into a new day--resonates with our helplessness and the greatness of God. Waking up into a new day is a good enough reason to be HAPPY every day, each and every morning!

Stop complaining about work or other pressing issues/people as you wake up. Just take a moment, breathe in and breathe out. Breathe in..., and hold! Think what you are blessed with: life it self, the greatest gift from GOD!

I thank GOD for having the time to read soul probing books like "same kind of different As me." May God bless us---despite our own shortcomings---to have positive impact on others while we still hold the gift of life. And may be, just may be, even after we have passed on to wake up on the heavenly side!!!

P.S._ Title of the book is given “As” is!

Copyright ©2010 VeeraMahal Franklin

HAPPY NEW YEAR & HAPPY THAI PONGAL!!!

MAY GOD BLESS US -AND
HELP US ALL... REACH
OUR TRUE POTENTIAL
TO REALIZE & REAP
OUR LIFE'S REAL...PURPOSE!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

-By VeeraMahal Franklin

P.S._
During the holidays, I enjoyed reading "The Wits & Wisdom of Benjamin Franklin" by Barnes & Nobles.

" Who is wise?
He that learns from everyone.
Who is powerful?
He that governs his passions.
Who is rich?
He that is content.
Who is that?
Nobody."

Such a wise quote---kind of teasing & challenging---I had to share with you! I am sure we are up to the challenge!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

THANK GOD for EACH & EVERYONE in my LIFE,
for being the BLESSING(S)....... THEY ARE...!!!

VeeraMahal FRANKLIN


Picture Depicts the Indo-Ceylon Thanksgiving; Harvest Festival
Courtyard Cooking Centerpiece!

Copyright © 2008 VeeraMahal

This decorative centerpiece is designed of White Rice (Center Square), Mung Beans (Green), Mysore Lentil (Orange) and indegenous Red Rice (outermost pink layer), and as usual in the courtyard (center of the extended family house with open roof). As you can see Beetle leaves or Mango leaves are used to intensify the symbolic beauty and prosperity. You may notice the red floor-the most popular floor color- especially in Ceylon, for courtyards and porticos. The shapes and design of the centerpiece can vary and limited only by the imagination or the availability of supplies.

A new earthenware is carefully chosen from the local market and used for harvest celebration. It is customary for the "man of the house"-the rice winner of the family- to put the first handfulls of red rice from the year's harvest into the pot of boiling milk. You should see the excitement when the milk boils & rises. The only thing I remember is... that it is believed to be very auspicious, if the milk boils over & over-flows eastward facing the rising sun. I am sure it is a way of recognizing the essential role the sun plays in reaping the year's harvest.

Once the boiled milk flows over, roasted mung beans-Raisins, Cashews, Nutmeg, Cardomom, Vanilla are added in slowly and while stirring jaggery (brown sugary extract from the Palmyrah palm inflorescence) is added. The preparation is first served for the family's ancestors who have passed on and then shared with everyone-relatives, neighbours and less fortunate ones. If you wonder, how is it possible to share what is prepared in this small pot with so many poeple-yes, they do say-even if it is a sesame seed divide into eight and share!

Ok... Ok! I'll let you in on the secret. As soon as the first handfull is put in the auspicious pot in the courtyard, a huge pot goes up inside the kitchen (usually in the backside of the house), to prepare large scale milkrice for sharing and feeding the poor. Even the crows and the ants are fed from the decorative layers of the centerpiece-once the festive rituals are over. No one goes to bed hungry that day; for it is a day of Thanksgiving!

VeeraMahal FRANKLIN

P.S.: This picture was taken two years back during my visit to Ceylon-a tropical paradise often referred to as 'Pearl of the Indian Ocean' and 'Island of Serendipity', world famous for high quality precious Gems and Tea.