The Lost Poetry of Sikh Poet Nunihal Singh Layal: Visit to the Moon and Divali

(Editor’s Note: This is part of an ongoing series to preserve on the Internet the “lost” poetry of Nunihal Singh Layal, the “Tradesman Poet,” who I met in New Delhi in 1974. Poems contain his original introductions. Joe Gandelman)

Visit To Moon
by Nunihal Singh Layal
The rivalry between the scientists of the U.S.A. and U.S.S.R to reach the moon-land has given me an idea to write a light though on it.

Let us go to the moon
Sooner than soon
To find a suitable room
For, there is no more room
On the limited earth.
For the increasing births,
For the growing population.
Is beyond human speculation.

Divali
On Divali which generally falls round about the 23rd of October every year the Hindus decorate their houses with multicolor lights, distribute and exchange sweets light fire-works and worship the Goddess of Weath (LAKSHMI). This day is celebrated in honor or Lord Rama’s Victory over King Ravana (of ceylon), and demonstrates the victory of Virtue over Evil.

Divali is a festival of lamps and lights,
Of sweets, and firework of different sights,
Good wishes are exchanged on this day and night,
Among friends and bloods of different height.

It brightens every home and hearth.
Hatred is dispelled from every heart,
Relations are renovated and past is forgotten,
So let me congradulate all with happiness begotten.