On Our Papa’s Passing Away
Day by day, he struggled
To keep himself alert
His health gave way gradually
He saw visions we did not see.
The brightness of the day receded
Far, far into the wild
He probably was aware
The sun would soon set, not rise
Darkness would cover the tide.
We held his hand to reassure him
He would soon be fine
But
Time waits for no one
It stood there by his side
Each day he grew weaker
But
Strength of will survived
The dark day was over
We stood there by his side.
We held his hands in ours
To give him confidence
To let him feel we know his doubts
That flooded in his mind
Suddenly he freed his hands
He had no wish to be tied
That night was too dark
The stars did not shine
The moon crept away to hide
Behind the grey clouds divine
The shrill cry of the phone at night
Shrieked to announce
The dark night was too dark
Papa’s soul had reached God divine.
We love you papa each hour of the day
We miss you so much we cannot say
Your smiling face
Your teasing ways
Your loving caresses we miss each day.
~Shobha Diwakar
Jabalpur, India
Note: Authors Farther had birthday on Dec 9th
It’s a beautiful tribute of a daughter to her father. Death is something that weakens the strongest of the strong. It shatters a person whose loved one has set off on an endless journey of no return. The poem shows how very deeply, the passing away of the poet’s father has affected her & she still remembers how he suffered in his last few days on this earth. Let’s hope and pray that he’s happy wherever he is. Ohm Shanti! Shanti! Shanti!
Beautiful poem!
thank you ASB & geetha jayakumar for your appreciation
I feel it speaks for everyone who has lost a dear father or a loved one
So sad an affair to witness in one’s life!
Its description full and total that reveals the melancholy to the onlookers!
Parting away of a life from this world is a foregone conclusion and as natural as its coming here to serve a purpose earmarked beforehand!
Reality well expressed in your beautiful poem!