Rabi, Our Pal Precious

Rabi, Our Pal Precious

 

Hey Patnaik! Our Pal Precious

Do not be heartless to ignore us.

You made us profoundly proud

so we all loved to be in the crowd

to cheer you breathlessly loud

to see your opponents bowed

Lip whistles we blew

to propel you

in the fierce boxing bout

any opponents, you to rout,

in our college hockey field

the best dribblers, you to shield,

in the RENGCOL Shree tussle

to be awed at your dancing muscles,

in cricket field as captain serious

your postures made us hilarious

that cloned the great Gary sobers

advising the bowlers between overs.

We then prayed for your wins

as your true friends since teens

at times being afraid of your boxing fist

at times being allured by your ensuing feast.

Your birth with silver spoon

and parental opulence and fortune

spoke, your gold chain on its swing

all these now the sweet memories fling.

A half century back over were RENGCOL days

parted we with tears then all on our own ways

to earn our bread and butter,

the earthly burden to shoulder.

In these five decades journey arduous

thirty-five of our dear pals parted us

thirty or so have disappeared into oblivion

cry now our hearts recollecting the associations.

Now at this advanced age

while waiting to eternity, our voyage

with limbs are limping to obey

and progenies staying far away

on reasons experienced as bitter or sweet

we feel to stay independent as right.

Hence each, we stay as lone old couples.

Need we our friends us often to cuddle

raising the drooping spirit to rise high

all sorrows inner and outer we will fight shy.

Need and create we occasions

to lighten the ailing burdens.

 

 

Your track after our alma-mater

in the law degree then, as a topper

practicing politics in right earnest

then turning as a leading hotel magnet,

of many things we learned, all befitting to you

as we envisaged, you are a man unique.

The get together in yurt hotel then often

with your love for us and personal attention

we discuss in a group and cherish alone

wonder we now and we silently moan.

Why from us is Ravi moving away?

Have some of us hurt him anyway?

Staying away from our calls and assemblies

has he forgotten his special place in our memories?

Console and cool, we ourselves on Rabi’s absence

as Rabi must be starting a dream project with vengeance.

Rab! Listen to us your classmates’ call

Leave the empire to your progenies all

Take Sanyas and prepare for final exit

enjoy your time during thus transit

worth your friends in the same boat

in a group enjoy we, when we float.

disturbed we feel missing you

the list for medals when we view

for instituting a medal in our institution

where you are perhaps hurt on this decision

take it as our trophy winning dinner

missing you as our omission dinner is over.

when in groups we assuaged you

embraced you then as a friend true.

we feel we have right on your love

to be pardoned of the lapses above.

Join us with your love and care for us

In our GJ we want to hug you as friend precious.

 

 

P K Routray

In the service of Lord

 

 

(WE passed engineering in 1970 and is going to hold a G J celebration. This poem is intended to invite a friend to join us narrating his deeds in that era. )