A Recollection

A Recollection

 

No beauty parlor

no jeweler nor tailor

no cosmetic surgery either

nether mammoth power

nor intent prayer

stop, can ever

time from thieving

the heydays of a human being

Over time crumbles

from cosmos to water bubbles

moments fleet so also days

Eons numerous fall on the ways

But stands against such furry

joyous moments in memory

in it man finds the living zest

that singles him out from the rest.

To drive in, quote I, Haunt Leigh

the feeling that our heats sigh

(Jenny Kiss’d Me

BY LEIGH HUNT

Jenny kiss’d me when we met,

Jumping from the chair she sat in;

Time, you thief, who love to get

Sweets into your list, put that in!

Say I’m weary, say I’m sad,

Say that health and wealth have missed me,

Say I’m growing old, but add,

Jenny kiss’d me)”

 

For your parents you did it

rejuvenating also our spirit

with your dear dad mum

we all their friend's bosom.

 

Thus the grace and beauty

of sixteen and twenty

that Manju Saroj had

that Lugu and Pupu could unclad

the glory after half a century

unfurling their love as a GJ memory

celebrating their wedding day

refreshing their memory on play

so also those of their pals dear”

and a privilege with them to cheer.

Envied we, Saroj’s bridal car journey

as in palanquin we surely looked funny

Lucky was he from among our race

as he could view Manju’s spinsterish grace

as saw the rest of us, after days four

whether our spouses are lively or bore.

Saroj managed Manju’s B/w snap

adding a proud feather to his cap

Saroj! Please pardon me

as alone here, you, I fail to see

as a pal, epics on you I can write

that even lord as a man will spite.

Alas for Manju madam!

missed we now your album

photo freezing your plight

for your grandkids’ delight

“ Curved gait with veils, long

to prove in you nothing was wrong

“ A Kataki gal turning a Gadajati Bohu”

trained or untrained you acted true.

Foot dust, toe water

respect to every elder

coming to see Kataki Bohu

to them all, you were from a zoo

Some came to note your flaws

only to embarrass your in-laws

later a topic for their grapevine

at bathing ghat and village shrine

succeeded or failed, they only know

you won overall lying humble and low

With head touching, ground kissing salutes

Manju at sixteen deserves all our tributes.

From electricity to kerosene light

Manju missed much to her plight

Managed she well without a murmur

and captured all hearts as girl wonder

“Smile Saroj”! she is your dad’s gift

Hey, Sonu and Om “ Follow it do not shift.”

 

Half a century has gone

alive from elders maybe none

to speak on the celebration

it was a gala as to us then known

at Askja with lunch, sumptuous

“ You kids! Can you repeat for us?

on lotus leaves, products organic

miss we today to our upkeep tragic.”

As missed some like me the scene

Holy divinized, it must have been

thus their fifty years’ harmony sings

possible only with then the blessings

Lugu Pupu decorate the altar

to evade their parents’ anger

from heaven cherishing this day

with diamond and platinum on the way

as on this day in unison prayed they

Assure, contented there they will stay

blessings, they will shower  on you

with pride in you, being their descendant true

 

 

A parlor session with Manju Saroj

we need to fly back to days, those.

Vows on the altar on knots nuptial

chanted by priests and their recital

miss, we will elders physical presence

but from Heaven, they assure their presence.

 

Hey descendants! At your apex you look

with the pains and pangs, they took

rowing through half a century

enduring for their family tree.

The salary scanty never deterred

they saw you are well feathered

to grow their tree strong and stout

singing their conjugal glory enroute.

 

Their Badakera village

from Tikar para forest foliage

that once ardoned the world over

to write  not on stone but on paper,

bred with all its constituents

your dad and all your ancients,

trained it, your mum not to fear a tiger

living there with her in-laws and father

Be proud of your ancestor and ancestral land

while celebrating Manju- Saroj GJ day in style grand.

Let your ancestors inspire you on this day

Their blessings to all of you , we fervently pray.

 

Pray we Lord for His grace

to thrive ahead unhindered Manju Saroj race

succeeding with humility in every sphere

To Glories of Manju Saroj, we all cheer.

 

 

P_ K Routray

in the service of Lord

 

(Saroj Dash ny friend since school days got married Manju on 9/3/1972. Today it their golden jubilee dates. This just some of my recollections in their honor