What makes him so proud?
A septuagenarian,
With a straight back
Affection in his tone
Over conversations of long ago
Of friends who didnt get out.
Of knowing his purpose in life.
He left a long time ago
But his training holds
Never a complain of how hard it is,
Or how tiresome life is
Waking up day after day
To the things that need done
Serving his family, friends
And those around him.
Looking down on us
with disgust in his eyes
For what he calls "new generation",
"The lazy ones" he says
"Not grateful for the things they have"
Shaking his head with hopelessness
"not respecting the sacrifices of the
forefathers; or knowing true courage;
Not understanding the circle of life;
Nor the changing seasons;
Not caring for the earth, its many lives"
At the Amar Jawan Jyothi
He sits and sighs,
Time, not on his side
Yet he walks with a straight back
Holding his head high
I wonder if I could ever
Grasp that essence that -
Makes him tall, loyal, brave and kind.
-Rashmi 2006
P.S. This is my entry for the Poetry Wednesday-March 12th 2008 hosted by Sans Souci. Click the Name to link back.
8 comments:
How easily we forget...both young and old. This is a poignant insight.
Reminds me of my grandfather.
Hey! great, This is a timeless story that keeps repeating itself; every generation probably grows to an age and feels this way, never realizing their elders had gone through this before.
I enjoyed this poem and your writing style,thanks for your participation, Rashmi.
you did proud to the loyal, my brother did the "beating of the retreats" once after the republic day parade. my kind tribute to the martyrs
thanks for your touring india and see my participation.
a verse of Shakespeare in “as you like it” with little add ons!
the link for the verse is
http://shankarg.multiply.com/journal/item/53/2008-m049_-_Poetry_Wednesday_Passage-_11_March_16_30_hrs_Chennai_India
It is a great poem. Patriotic. They are the saviors of the nation. Beautiful piece. Thanks for sharing -
My Poetry is at - http://jayaramanms.multiply.com/journal/item/86 Pl. see.
"My kind of loyalty was loyalty to one's country, not to its institutions or its office-holders. ~Mark Twain"
My poem on “searching peace” is linked below:
http://rajarishi.multiply.com/journal/item/6/Poetry_Wednesday_-_Searching_Peace-_005
As I was reading I saw a man in the seventies blowing off her grandfather who fought in WWI or WWII. Very nice poem. Thanks so much for sharing it with us!
Not all youngsters are oblivious to the price of their luxuries today, or the fear of losing them tomorrow, yet I can see this scenario all to often. I wonder if our fighting generation now, will ever be what such man like this is/was... very thought provoking.
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