Poetry Must Go On
A poem for Mangalesh Dabral Ji
What a sad and cruel dawn
time has snatched away another loved one
once again a fragrant flower is gone
before its time, what a sad and cruel dawn
he was a poet, a gentleman,
as gentle as life could be,
always bearing a sweet smile
he is now gone, what a sad and cruel dawn
he wrote poems full of love
and longing, touching our hearts,
he flowed gently like water, lived a simple life
now he is gone, what a sad and cruel dawn
Should we all shed tears and mourn
for days? He would have said— ‘come on,
ready your plumes and go on
don’t waste this golden dawn,
write pain, miseries of millions suffering
silently across the world, become their voice
how does it matter if I’m gone,
wield your pen, poetry must go on.’
Vinamra shraddhanjali to poet Mangalesh Dabral Ji
[Abhay K]