To Captain, with Gratitude

 

(Dedicated to Dr Rajesh M Ramankutty, Cardiothoracic surgeon, Caritas Heart Institute, Kerala. My Papa got a new lease of  life through a bypass surgery and valve replacement when he was 87 yrs old. Through his constant encouragement and assurance, Papa participated in 3 state meets after his surgery winning Gold medals and also enjoys his other passion, agriculture. A kind-hearted , humble person who does his work, acknowledging that it is God who works through him. Thanks to his skills, Papa is still with us and celebrated his 90th birthday)

It was the greatest gamble of life

Trying to cross the bridge with Papa

I never knew if it was possible or right

So I set off to the shore to find help

 

There I found you who said yes

To give Papa a new lease of life

I trusted you because you trusted God

And there the journey to life began

 

As I neared the bridge I felt

A shiver and a quiver that chilled my spine

I was a misfit, with thousand worries

Lonely and lost, confused and scared

 

Captain said ‘yes’ and he took the boat

He said ‘Directions must come from above’

He moved ahead trusting God in each step

Focusing on life that was trusted in his hands

 

I panicked, I chocked, I collapsed

But Captain stood strong without shaking

He turned his back to my ignorance and fears

Because he was carrying Papa to life

 

Captain, I am so sorry to be a silly human

I gave in your hands my most precious gift on earth

I couldn’t afford to lose Papa

In the greatest gamble of life that I took

 

But believe me Captain

Without you, there was no life, no crossing of this bridge

Without you, there was no new lease of life to offer Papa

I remain ever grateful to you for sailing Papa to the shore of life

 

There are no words to thank you or say what my heart feels

To still have with me, my Papa, my Hero

May your rewards shower from Heaven

From the Master Healer who you serve.

 

Droplets on the sand

There is a roar in the silence of my depth

A million tear drops awaiting deliverance

All you hear could be sound and tunes

You see just my surface, the mask on my face.

 

Between the mountains and the seas

Was born this life, they called a River

Who am I who flows through lands

Touching and being touched along the way?

 

Neither the flood, nor the drought

A strong existence, a womb, a woman

Flowing across the borders and barriers

Yet, a story sinking into a whirlpool deep.

 

A pure drop that turns impure,

An insignificant being on Earth,

Is that me or is it you who made me fade

Covering my face with this floating froth?

 

I reached you to love, to nourish, to share

Just as I fed the trees, animals and birds                                                      

You came to me with unclean plans

You used , misused, abused my soul.

 

You dumped your dirt and trash in me

And called me dirty, useless, polluted

You looted my riches without a shame

And left me barren, dry, depressed.

 

I lost my laughter, lost my song

I lost my purpose, lost myself

Then came the rain to cheer me up

But nothing could bring back what I had lost.

 

Am I a loser? Is there life beyond this depth?

Yet to find my real destination

My water evaporates into nothing

And pours to me again from the distant skies.

 

I hear the sea calling, I see her waiting

I feel the touch of a mother’s hands

I cried and cried on her shoulders strong

Till I tasted in her, the salt of my tears.

 

When I turned back, I learnt the truth

I was a giver sent with life

To quench the thirst of million lives

Who you killed to serve your human greed.

 

Women waiting with their empty pots

To take the last drop from my breast

Monsters coming to dig me further

To create a pit for themselves to fall.

 

There’s no word to write my story

This song will go without a rhythm

Just like me who’s tossed and turned

To many identities that was never my choice.

 

I’m dying, I’m turning into dry land, a past

O Man, take a step, take a look, restore me now

Tomorrow you will need for sure, a river

By then, I mustn’t be a thing that you cannot reverse.