My Friend, I Will Never Say Goodbye Poem by Seema Jayaraman

I remember our gang jousting's
growing up as pranky teenagers
One such debate on our heights
Contest for the tallest amongst us

And you remarked, one day
you would overshoot boundary lines
be the tallest amongst us all
You would touch the skies

these words of yours I treasure
I cherish and roll in my mind
Whenever fondly I remember
Our happy carefree days of youth

You made your promises good
went to soar the skies
Pioneer in so many fronts
First Malayali female Airforce pilot

So prophetic were your words
As though future seen and said
You set standards for us
ordinary middle class girls

Your actions achieved glories
Many of us just wished and dreamt
You are the mistress of silver wings
Queen of all that soars up in skies

Today you choose to fly higher
Far off into the wide blue skies
But for these cords held in my heart
To tether you strongly in our lives

Sumi, no matter where you go
No matter, from life to death
Today filled with disbelief and sadness
I declare, I will never say goodbye
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Seema jayaraman, Mumbai,23Nov2015