sitting here in the cusp
of a greedy world
where each seeks something
only for own good,

i would rather have
a bouquet of goodies for
me and my folks
particularly as the new year begins,

i look back at the cosmic awareness
of knowledge seeking
ancient brahmins,
and get amazed at
the altruist spirit and
sense of renunciation,  they
made a common daily practice,
that rang loud in chants
during elaborate rituals
of fire sacrifice
in ancient times.

one by one, putting an enormous collection of
offerings ; butter,variety
of sacred wood, flowers,herbs and grains
in to flames, with the accompaniment of
chants of benediction and good thoughts,
in unison, each one asserted in chaste Sanskrit:
"This is not for me"
"idem na mama"
with each offering.

the Gods could  have any reason,
not to accept those offerings,
given away with purest of intensions,
that changed the ionic configuration
of the atmosphere, more beneficial to humans
by changing air, land and water, pure
and full of life force.