Works of Eternal Worth
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I still hear the footsteps of my parents: be faithful, be a good neighbor and a citizen. From an early age I was taught to treasure the eternal values of life and to become a full man. I could not understand the depth of those values at that time, but as I grew older and faced the realities of life, I came to my senses and understood their true meaning. Moreover, I understood how important it is to have such values at every step of life. My parents spared no pains and guided me to imbibe all that was good, impressing upon me the love of fellow human beings and the need to serve the humanity at large. This has made an impact on my life that at times tears well up in my eyes upon hearing some woeful tale, wondering all the time why it must be so. In addition to being a student of engineering, I gave a great deal of time to the study of poetical works on nature, the universe, human beings, mysticism, etc. After that I devoted myself to investigating philosophical thoughts and ideas as formulated by the great Eastern and Western philosophers. As the span of my life increased, the horizon also broadened, and I began to understand the phenomena of nature. In the course of the studies I saw the realities of life, giving great awareness to my heart and mind. It is well said that knowledge of science and art is not gained merely to pluck flowers and buds from the orchards of the World, rather, it is a weapon which guards against the secrets of life. I have been an admirer of the great Western poets particularly William Wordsworth (a magnificent poet of nature), John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In addition, I have been equally influenced by Eastern poets such as Jalal Al-Din Rumi, Muhammad Iqbal and Khalil Gibran whose poems and lyrics are dyed in humanity, nature and mysticism. During my life I have developed a deep sense of love for brotherhood among humanity. With that end in view I started writing poetry and I have tried to touch on most of the subjects pertaining to the temporal and eternal values of life needed to become a soulful man. In my view the poet does not belong to any country, as he gives a message to the whole world and to humanity at large. I hope that most of my poems are able to penetrate the mind and soul and to awaken the higher conscience to stir the heart as well. A few of poems have already been published by The National Library of Poetry. While the "Man’s Star", which won the third prize during a contest, has appeared in their special edition "Outstanding Poets of 1994". My poem "Lip Service" has also received an honorable mention from the World Poetry Press of Sacramento, California, and was published later on. Sparrow Grass Poetry of West Virginia has also approved my poetry for publication. I have also included in the book a few essays pertaining to "Self" after having consulted the works of other writers, and I hope to present a compendium of knowledge, without which I feel the book would be incomplete. I also have other debts to acknowledge. While writing this book my wife took special care on me. Moreover, both my wife and my nephew Shahid Habib have encouraged me in my work. Mr. Habib has a fine taste for poetry and has given me suggestions from time to time. I acknowledge with thanks the support of my daughter Shahida Afzal and her help in preparing the manuscript and the title page in such an artistic manner. My son Saqib Latif also helped me in the same manner. I greatly admire Mrs. Sheryl Beck, who has a liking for my poetry from the very beginning and I appreciate her encouragement. I have a special place in my heart for Mr. Greg Noakes who has written a beautiful foreword for my book. God bless them with every joy in life. I also pay tribute to my friends, Dr. Henry Butler, Dr. M. Syed, Barbara Vitol, Chuck Miller, Shanks Lauren and Cynthia Canon, and my other well wishers who appreciate my artistic efforts. They have been a great encouragement and asset for me.
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About the Book
The book deals with nature, universe, mysticism love of brotherhood, humanity mankind, etc. Moreover, as its title signifies, Works of Eternal Worth points towards the real and permanent values of life as to develop one’s self to become a full person serving the humanity at large. We do not pay much heed to practice these values in this temporal world, which are so necessary at each step for our life. The book is mainly in verse with few essays. The poems such as Air Bubbles, Emotion, and Veil over Reality shall penetrate the mind and soul to awaken the higher conscience and to stir the heart as well. Some of the essays pertain to self, its secrets, and searching. Another words, when one gains the strength to transcend the creation of sense perception one has the power to expand by absorbing the elements of the universe.
About the Author
As summarized by ASCE NEWS Journal of American Society of Civil Engineers that poetry takes a new meaning when written by civil engineer Abdul Latif, a poet for the ages. If William Words Worth have feared for the future of romantic poetry in which nature is revered and the souls of human are reflected in tranquil pounds. To Rescue rides the poet synthesis into crystalline profundity some of the knowledge he has gained of the world through his training, his spiritual quest, and poetical musing. His poem Man’s Star won third prize in the Northern American poet’s contest and likewise some other poems have honorable mention. His devotion to his art has also garnered an appreciation amount of local press in the suburban community of Fairfax, VA where he has given interviews to several publications.