Anniversary Gift

Anniversary gift

P K Routray

Thirty nine years back

as a groom I came to your village

on a Palki in a procession

with beatingdrums, cracking crackers,

Not knowing you

Nor had not seen you earlier.

Married you on an altar.

Priests solemnized the marriage,

in presence of many nears and dears

respected adorable elders.

Most of them have left this mortal world

A handful witnesses of the day are left

to remember the distant occasion

for some as children’s fun.

Thirty nine years together

sharing, smiling caring, crying

fighting, hugging together.

Three daughters we nurtured

many dreams, dreamt alone and together

most of them might have been shattered

in the joys and sorrows of life

pains and emotional turmoil and strife.

Faith we had mutually I am sure.

Today remember we the thorns of life

The failures and sighs with tears.

How long more we can stay together

May or may not be to see another year

But convey I my gratitude

          declaring before my friends dear          

I owe you my health and life of this birth

with missions of life

for which I was sent to this earth.

Colourless, fragrance leess may be

this anniversy gift but it is from my heart..

But with love pray, accept it

N> B I got married on 3rd Feb 1975 to a girl I had not seen. This [poem is my anniversay gift to her.