"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.