to my granddad who bade us farewell on 1 July 2012
Farewell to our dear grandfather
He has departed from this world; gone up, up and above,
Beyond our reach, he has reached his maker’s dwelling,
Maybe he’s watching us with that same humble smile; bestowing joy and love,
Seems like the everlasting arms of the Almighty are his new dwelling.
The face that rests glum today,
Used to sway waves of laughter all the way,
The wrinkled fingers which stand numb in the silence of today,
Used to dance on the chessboard yesterday.
The arms which lay still today,
Embraced his cheerful children just yesterday,
The lips which don’t move today,
Muttered the Almighty’s name every day.
The hands that lay numb today,
Blessed us just yesterday.
The sun had risen but has set today,
May the winds arrive and sway our sorrows away.
Like a cool balmy breeze, he brought joy to our lives and then swept away,
In that tree’s shade, rose our dawn but our solitude would have to pass the cold dark night away.
His demise has made all of us drenched in sorrow,
All we would want would be some courage if we could borrow.
A river has been separated from its sea,
A father has left his child’s hand; changed his company,
May the empty sea get filled by the rain,
May the child gain the courage to rise again.
May the tears that run down our cheeks today,
Turn to elated smiles tomorrow.
May the weak roots which have been shaken today,
Grow into strong trees tomorrow.
The man which lays numb today,
Was my cheerful jolly grandpa till just yesterday.
He has vanished in the dark, gone far away,
May the sun rise again, May the dark clouds go away.
- Tejas Oberoi
