A Friend On the pyre

A Friend On the pyre
P K Routray
                           
With thoughts nostalgic,
fire flame on a sandal wood stick
I put it on Rabi’s face looking cherubic
His lips were closed to speak.
His eyes were closed to wink
My septuagenarian wisdom started to sink.
His face over the ages has not lost its grace
on the pyre, it dazzled still brighter than Rengcol days,
confident to raise confidence in a drooping friend
that has stood many crises negotiating many a bend.
“Slept over the pyre Rabi with a Radha’s elegance
as if the Radha has just left for Lord Krishna in silence.
What is the purpose of life and who am I?
the gist of all scriptures I saw in Rabi’s closed eye.”
Forced was I to bid his mortal remains adieu
with sighs of grief from my abyss for a friend true.
No longer shall I listen again a sweet call
“ Routray” coated with love, me, to enthrall.
Bye, bye Rabi I shall be grateful to the Lord
if life after life a friend like you, me if He can afford.”
All my wisdom gathered from scriptures
failed in their logic to refrain my torrential tears.
Just yesterday we were companions of merriment
parted now we are leaving me and others to lament.
Kali, Gopal Sidhu Brhma, Raju with all his classmates
all his neighbors, peers, superiors and subordinates
with their spouses on the spot and at far off distances
were sailing with me in the same boat for a man of masses.

( My coleague and classmate Rabindra Nath Jena left for his heavenly
abode on 5th April.His mortal remains were put on fire to flame.)