You stood by the birthing chamber anxiously
One of two men pacing up and down before that door
Both rejoiced when they heard the indignant wails cried angrily
Floating in through the painful shrieking walls of Childbirth
Growing up, you were the guide
The wise old man who had all the answers
We climbed the thousand steps to Mahavira s summit together
You on your feet, me with you as my ride
The Sanjeevani in your hands
Issued relief when I was in ailing distress
I ran to you when my nightmares
Woke me up in cold sweats and shaking with stress
With a wave of a hand
And an incantation of your voice
You chased all the ghosts away
Turned off all my mental noise
You taught me to hold a chalk
Held my hand through my first alphabets
Gave me my first paint-brush to wield
Told me my senses could be fine-tuned instruments
You rejoiced at my silly victories
And comforted me in my foolish defeats
Told me the same stories again and again
Never growing weary of those irrational requests to repeat
When I grew older
I saw who I would be in old age
When I looked at you
Your wizen yet noble and wise visage
At the end of my hardest day
When Im worn out and breathing raggedly
Your memory gives me succor
And your words ring in my ears ever steadily
Even in your last moments
You held true to your word
You didnt give up your final breath
Till you met me one last time at that momentous crossroad
As your vessel finally lay
Lifeless still, in calm repose
I know your spirit merged
Back into the Primordial eternal source
Even today,
Or until the end of my years...
Your noble memory
Will wipe my most anguished tears
Be a good human being and please all our ancestors...
May I live to be (to someone) all that you have been to me
Hear this, my ode to you my grandfather...
From now on till eternity
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written by dwai, 2008-02-07 13:57:33
Dear Soumi,
Please accept my condolences on your immense loss.
If Parents are like the walls and roof of a room, grandparents often are like the windows through whom we see and learn the world.
Rest assured in the fact that your grandfather will be keeping a watchful eye on you and all your future generations.
Dwai
Please accept my condolences on your immense loss.
If Parents are like the walls and roof of a room, grandparents often are like the windows through whom we see and learn the world.
Rest assured in the fact that your grandfather will be keeping a watchful eye on you and all your future generations.
Dwai
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written by P. Desikan, 2008-02-07 03:06:33
Dear Soumi,
You are so rightly aware of the magic of one's harshest critic being one's best friend and (imagine your good luck!)one's blindest fan as well!
Let the magic stay with you throughout your life!
Regards. Partha.
You are so rightly aware of the magic of one's harshest critic being one's best friend and (imagine your good luck!)one's blindest fan as well!
Let the magic stay with you throughout your life!
Regards. Partha.
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written by P. Desikan, 2008-02-07 03:00:57
Dear Dwai,
Aatmaa vai putra naamaasi is a line that is invoked in several of our rituals. I would happily exclaim, pautra or dauhitra naamaasi as well.
It is a great privilege to have lived in the same house as one's grandparent. How gratefully you are celebrating your special relationship with your grand dad!
My father's father passed away when I was barely ten months old. But I have enjoyed the company of my maternal grandfather to my heart's content. He was my guardian for four years when my parents were obliged to leave me under his care. He doubled as a teacher in my school as well at that time in the village. He kindly chose to spend a good part of his declining years with me.
A proud moment in my life was when he blessed my then one year old grandson in August 1992, while conducting the annual ceremony in his father's memory! He passed away in 1993, just days before he could complete his birth centenary!
Regards. Partha.
Aatmaa vai putra naamaasi is a line that is invoked in several of our rituals. I would happily exclaim, pautra or dauhitra naamaasi as well.
It is a great privilege to have lived in the same house as one's grandparent. How gratefully you are celebrating your special relationship with your grand dad!
My father's father passed away when I was barely ten months old. But I have enjoyed the company of my maternal grandfather to my heart's content. He was my guardian for four years when my parents were obliged to leave me under his care. He doubled as a teacher in my school as well at that time in the village. He kindly chose to spend a good part of his declining years with me.
A proud moment in my life was when he blessed my then one year old grandson in August 1992, while conducting the annual ceremony in his father's memory! He passed away in 1993, just days before he could complete his birth centenary!
Regards. Partha.
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written by Soumi Basu, 2008-02-06 22:51:50
Hi Rudra what a touching poem. I lost my grandfather just six weeks back. You poem brought back again that aching sense of loss but with it also so many fond memories. He was not only my harshest critic and guide, but also my blindest fan and one of the best friends I have ever had.
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Another wonderful poem!
Pradip da