Retirement Poetry Poem by umaprosad das

At this moment of emotion, in such an occasion, of fond Farewell Gatherings
Appear in mind, thoughts of many kinds, lots of past memories and things
Many affairs, of hopes and despairs, cheers and tears, or gains and pains
So many moments, of joyous events, of fun and run, or emotion and tense

Many of such lots, are snapshots, and stored nicely in my mind album
A source of treasure, giving pleasure, when I turn back the pages one by one
It makes me feel, life is a deal, in so many aspects and things of complexities
Full of color, waded through events of sweet or sour, comforts or adversities

Thirty-one and a half years back, in N.M. Lab., in 1981, on 29th September
It is my pleasure, I joined as Stenographer, which seems to me as if a day's back affair
Being posted under, Dr. Rajendra Kumar, the then-famous Scientist Director
I started my service career, with a pencil, pen and paper, and a typewriter

Taking down dictations, the output of transcriptions, first draft, and then fair
Made me an efficient one, in my profession, to deal in the scientific affair
I myself kept, often engaged, in assigned jobs, even beyond office hours
Little could I have enjoyed by gossip or chatting with fellow mates and others

I now depart, from my active part, of life to the spiritual Banprosth stage
When being at home and hearth, I like to start, by keeping myself fully engaged
In search of literary worth, putting down my thought, with pen on paper
Having my humble skill, but with utmost zeal, with austere effort and desire

I will now have, time enough, to go through the Epics, literature, and verse
Where philosophy of life, nicely thrives, by great authors and philosophers
Ramayan, Mahabharath, Geetanjali, poet Rabindranath, Kalidas and Chandidas
Are of great inspiration to me, to follow them in glee, without any clash

Human life is most valuable, to be made successful, with our superior deeds
God empowers a lot, with intellect and thought, with necessary tools and kits
We are grateful to God, for having us brought, here to this beautiful earth
Bestowing human life, to live and thrive, act and enjoy with precious birth

He allows a life span, to everyone, and has provided all the provisions for us
We should not forget, the blessings of the Great, Creator and His purpose
We should enjoy every bit, of Nature's gift, as well as do for others' benefit
We must work and find some footprints behind left over as successors' gift

A lot of things and events, in days and moments, I shall have now to miss
Amongst that is the MST Secretariat neat and clean my most favorite Office
Equipped with modern, e-mail fax Xerox and scan, and a cordial atmosphere
Kept me fondly, to be associated closely, for more than thirty-one and a half years

I will now miss, my dear colleagues, dear NML, friends, and my well-wishers
Your association, help love, and cooperation, that you shared with me with cheers
Oh great NML, I always feel pride to tell, you as one of your favorite sons
Whatever I got, favored my luck a lot, bringing success in my life missions

NML's modern facilities, provided my expertise, in many fields, I confess
I'm now aware, to shuffle net and software, in my happiness and with success
Oh great NML, here does prevail, an atmosphere of tranquility and serenity
It enables to perform, jobs and duties to everyone, smoothly and with dignity

I sailed over my life buoy steadily in joy overcoming all hazards and odds
Safety and security hope and prosperity to every employee as NML does accord
You provided everyone with safe accommodation full of comfort and beautiful
Where life is in bliss with happiness and peace, trouble-free and graceful

Now indeed, no pending deed, no more urgent need, no tensions or anxieties
No chase or haste, no unrest, no time-bound attendance or responsibilities
Now no unsuccessful deal, would depress me and kill my sleep, often at night
There won't ever lay any tense morning or daytime is no more short to fight

I can now enjoy freely, with dear ones and family and with my friends
I can relax and chill as and when I feel enjoy and share many light moments
I can now chat, this or that, with so many unknown friends, far away from me
Hours and hours in cool through Gmail, skype, and google in open heart and glee

I offer a lot of thanks to my dear colleagues and friends best wishes to you
I never forget, my life enriched and great sharing your thought and view
I‘m indeed happy, to have the liberty of retirement on my superannuation
It will be in my fond memory NML and its glory and your sweet association

In fact, a happy retirement, is a time for enjoyment, a time to feel and share
Life's essence and beauty, being free from duties as you do like to care
I feel glad to compose, poetry and prose with humble expertise and education
Without expectation of applause or appreciation name and fame or recognition


A few lines about my country Land, which is Great and Grand

I was born, in the land of poetry and songs, memorable with precious births
Jayadev, Chandidas, Noble Laureate Rabindranath, so many poets, and authors
Poet Chandidas, through his famous verse, taught about humanity and love
Hit the social doctrine by worth saying "None else but Humanity is all above"

The famous Sanskrit Poet, Jayadev, the great, composer of the Gita Govindam
Where God, himself appeared to help, wrote "Deyhi Pada Ballava Mudaram"
"Place your foot on my head, " Lord Krishna wrote himself Jayadev failed to deal
With the worth sentence, having utmost intense, the gap in the Gita Govindam to fill

In close vicinity, of the holy town and city, of Santiniketan, Nanoor and Kenduli
Where foot marks, of great souls and their works, have made the places holy
There amongst them, at the small hamlet Bandar by name I was blessed with the birth
And was brought up in poor status but with great souls' influence and girth

Kumud Ranjan Mullik a Bengali Poet, of the neighboring hamlet, was my inspiration
And my concentration, to become a poet like them, grew into an ambition
Now I'm free and fine, to invest time in literary works to go with my vision
With earnest zeal, I continue till I can fulfill my desire and reach my mission

I hail from a land, where the common man and peasant compose songs on their lips
Singing to self, and for none other else, in the solitary field in happiness or grief
They sing folk songs, Vatially, Baul, Bolan or Bhajan, and their own tale
Feeling relief, from sorrow or grief or sharing happiness or romance of vale

They compose songs, and on various occasions, they worship the local God or Goddess
It's customary to sing, at marriage gatherings, family-friend composed verses
When some morn, singing in a melancholy tone, hearers' eyes fill with tears
Everyone shares, sympathy and cares, whatever loss or sorrow someone bears

Village inhabitants mostly laborers or peasants struggle for their livelihood
A few amongst them, who have literary gain leave villages for their own good
There're poverty, ignorance, superstition, fiction, lack of health, happiness
Overall, love, sympathy, and peace, supersede; my hamlet's uniqueness

In open hearts, they take part in whatever ability they've in worship, festivities
Not much of pomp, folk are at romp, no grudge to anybody or for inabilities
I'm interested, in poetic debate, and was overwhelmed by logic of local guys
Got deeply motivated to be a poet being inspired by their wisdom, expertise

All seasons, with Nature's blessings, take the rotation and fulfill their needs
With flowers and fruits vegetable pulses and roots corns leaves and seeds
Autumn arrives, highly thrives scenic beauty with greenery and grace
Brings along it basketful of gifts so splendid pleasant atmosphere do embrace

Miles after miles white flower spikes of wild catkins make our land illusive
Above in the sky, gad and fly milk-white clouds making the beauty diffusive
It's prime time when body and mind do utmost feel comfort happiness and ease
People celebrate at their best festival and fair worship and share love and bliss

Goddess Durga, Deepavali, Goddess Laxmi and Holy, Lord Ganesha, Sun and Moon
People worship in respect and belief; get relief from evil woes and misfortune
In a bit of gain, they feel well content in loss or death people can only wail
They feel virtuous, to do and die at last, without being thrust on their country's soil

Innocents do not bother, about what happens to the world over, the simple life they lead
An attitude of exception found in each person to love and serve others in need
Our motherland, beautiful with trees and plants, snow-covered mountain peak
Rivers lakes oceans terrain plain desert of sands beautify at its highest pick

I was destined to, come and work to do, at NML in the most famous Tata Steel City
Roads were neat and clean vegetables fresh and green water hygienic, tasty
Environment enjoyable life cozy and comfortable driving not so much of pain
Marketing of no tussle, customers are free to shuffle shopping goods and bargain

Vendors take care, keep the personal touch, and share inputs of worth they feel
Drawing faith in customers' satisfaction and pleasure and own goodwill
Residing in Steel hub each falls in love with the cordial atmosphere and caring deal
A cosmopolitan city, secular and of integrity everybody's heart it does steal

31 years and a half with love and trust in Steel City I passed and worked at NML
Did care and share sophisticated atmosphere to improve and wisdom to avail
I encouraged my son, to devote himself and learn materials science and metallurgy
Work and gain, knowledge, and experience contribute to the field significantly

We look forward, to when NML achieves the best award, for its hard work indeed
Besides bringing so many, laurels prizes as a testimony for the worthy deeds
I offer my thanks to colleagues and friends to hear me being patient and calm
Please excuse me if any fault happened to accept my best wishes and pranam