(A tribute to India's beloved Sushma Swaraj, former External Affairs Minister, who passed away on 6th August 2019.Sushma means splendorous beauty and Swaraj, her husband's first name, stands for one's own home-land.)
A mother bid adieu,
an elder sister departed
and an elder sister-in-law vanished.
Children of India spreading across the globe
in a diaspora of friendly sunshine
have lost a dear mother.
Has light forsaken its abode?
Are flowers whimpering in tears?
Are the skies raining grief?
Have birds sobbed on Ganges banks?
The mother eagle,
who used to gather her fledglings in distress,
marooned across the darkness of world's battlefields
and distant deserts of conflict,
under her spreading wings' comfort
and then reach them to peaceful nests on Indian shores
soaked in her torrential love,
has just flown away.
Patient like Mother Earth,
smiling like the Goddess of Wealth,
soft-spoken like the Goddess of Wisdom,
and moving majestically around
like the Goddess of Power on world forums,
sowing goosebumps wherever she strode,
Mother India's dear daughter,
splendorous beauty of the land of seers,
her forehead decked in the vermilion of an ancient cultural past,
has just left without uttering a word.
Weep India unabated
with the sobbing parrot of the heart,
call out "Oh Mother, come back
fresh in the morn,
flower in nature
and enter Indian womanhood
to keep raining countless worlds of shine"
some favorite lines: " Are flowers whimpering in tears? Are the skies raining grief? Have birds sobbed on Ganges banks? " & " sowing goosebumps wherever she strode" Maybe she has important business elsewhere! ! nice. I may hire you to write my obitchuary. i MEAN obituary. :) bri
Thanks Bri. Why not hire me to write one right now when you are still alive and kicking. That way I am assured of my payment and a place for the live obit in your fav list.
(4) It is a great pity that I have just come across your fascinating poem about her, since you have already published it on Poem Hunter on 14 August recently. Thanks so much for sharing, Madathil Sir. A 10 full score and myriad of 10´s for this colourful and gorgeous Tribute. May she Rest In Peace. Amen. PS. How old was she when she died, if I may ask........
She was 67 and that was no age to go. Thanks a lot for your kind words of appreciation.
(3) Indeed to you none words from her, but IF closer to her corpse YOU will hear these words straight from her, I am sure she will thank you for your touching and grateful Tribute, there is much beauty and admiration in your poem, a moving poem, a must-read, valuable words about India's former foreign minister, very good reason to be proud of her and the India of her time, she has accurately represented India on World forums and nobody does that to her.
(2) .....I cite here one of your impressing stanzas: Patient like mother earth, smiling as the goddess of wealth, softly spoken as the goddess of wisdom, and moving majestically such as the Goddess of Power on world forums, sow goosebumps wherever she walked, Mother India's best daughter, splendor of the land of seers, her forehead adorned with the vermilion of an old cultural past, has just left without saying a word.....................
(1) CONGRATULATIONS on being chosen as the Member Poem Of The Day, Hurray! A truly well deserved PLACE as The Member Poem Of The Day, cite here one of your lovely stanzas: Please see number (2) for cont. Thank you
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
A sincere tribute to a recently departed leader of India, who was equally powerful and strong, compassionate and loving at the same time! Beautifully pictured - the Great Woman and the void she has left! Congratulations!
Thanks revered ma'am for such a nice remark. Happy to see you after so many months of my exile from here.
I am indeed bowled over by your praise, Madam. Thank you very much for your kind words of appreciation.