A Tragedy- too tragic

A Tragedy- too tragic

Ma’s temple being at the fore
with devotion at our hearts’ core
daily evening after a prayer short
to thwart parental displeasure of, any sort
for our lapses galore as teenagers
being own guardian prone to errors
climb up in hurry we to hillock top
with teenagers' passions to prop
For this meet over the day, longed we
every evening daily to gossip, free
The hillock bears the Gadeswsw name
it has a stamp of Budhuithakurani’s fame.
Six decades past, at our teens
Shiba used to lead the scenes
with his spicy jovial deliberations
palatable only to his .companions
close, classmates, around the same age
under the spell of passion’s rampage.
Evenings used to advance to late night
students strikes permitting us the right.
Cherish I Shiba’s every word verbatim
flowing from the heart’s bottom
with live scenes of those evenings
mesmerizing memories to all it brings.
All pals alive talk of his talks captivating
reminisce his company with tears flowing
forgetting age and in life their statures
after all, to Shiba nothing in life was dearer.
in life at different stages and different positions
bank I on his gesture and posture with dispositions
to get smiles of relief when my grief takes over
reminisce i those days till this age of departure.
Drives it ,me to the first year of college
with dear Shiba at the center stage.
Hus quote of a historian
still in live in me, brazen
from his lips, a blend of Odia and English
for umpteen times to listen, I intently wish.
Hey, time! you are a thief
the cause of our grief
robbing us of our day's best
wish we, as you would have blest
making those evenings, last endless
allowing our gossip to be ceaseless
with Shiba at the center, us around
nothing better than that in life I have ever found
On reflection now
to his caliber, we bow
with destiny’s recognition
metric was his rise in profession
excelling over many in the process
we rejoiced and were proud of his success.
Destined was he to be a professor
a pro and vice-chancellor
waxing his eloquence
in his subject, he proved his brilliance.
his students numerous
now personalities luminous
agree with me with tears
cherishing with him the years.
Loves he his friends' deep
in my instances many always peep
his loud scream with a tear
over Brindaban’s body a friend dear
forgetting his standing, age, and situation
reveal for a friend his love and affection.
Shiba himself carrying a bag big
to his vc post caring a fig
brought perched rice for me
Shiba in it your greatness I see
humbled I am my gratitude to you
hey dear friend Krishna in you,I view.
Moved we often together
with fun, frolics and laughter
from place to place far and near
to friends and their families dear
Cherish to my heart your proximity
never imagined so soon it would flee.

At this age to reminisce a friend
with whom our whole life we longed to spend
but left he us all of a sudden
leaving us forever grief-stricken.
Bleed my heart
tearing it apart
excuse me to the abrupt end
salute with gratitude to Shiba my dear friend.
Many things you taught me to know
this life further to row
with frolic and fun
not life with worries worn
Your historian kicks in me
hoping fervently onea gain you I see,

P K Routray
in the service of the Lord

(In the memory of a classmate SWhiba Prasad Rath who departed us on 17^th o0ct 22)