Rediscovering Herself Poem by DEEPAK KUMAR PATTANAYAK

Rediscovering herself
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Neither tired nor lonely
Through the years
Nothing saddened her
There were joys only
To students she was a star teacher
Vivacious and full of zest
For life, she inspired her students
With faith, love and wisdom
A happy family life too had she to groom
But life's ways are uncertain
The paths we are treading
May change anytime, we know not when
Approaching retirement, she fell ill
Detected with a tumour in the brain
Successfully she was operated upon
And the tumour turned out to be benign!
But the operation left her weak and vulnerable
She felt restless and lonely
Courage flew away from her eyes abruptly
She stopped living enthusiastically
Seeing her in a negative frame of mind
She was persuaded by her loving husband
To go out for a walk in the morning
To see, feel and spend with nature beside
Then they took a short, leisurely stroll daily
Upon God's chosen pathways, she found
Fresh morning breeze touching her face gently
And melting her tension down
With her mind now relaxed and suddenly
The words she remembered
To her students she had said
'O Lord, lead me holding my hand
Ever be by my side to protect me, O Beloved! '
These words gave her strength and courage
And moved out her heart to her family and friends
Forgetting all her physical ailment
In such miraculous words, herself she rediscovered
Saying to her new students
'If you want to live a life of beauty and joy
Then you must make prayer an integral part of life'
As I rediscovered