Ode to a Grandfather

When I came into this world You stood by the birthing chamber anxiously One of two men pacing up and down before that door Both rejoiced when they heard the indignant wails cried angrily Floating in through the painful shrieking walls of Childbirth

Growing up, you were the guide The wise old man who had all the answers We climbed the thousand steps to Mahavira ’s summit together You on your feet, me with you as my ride The Sanjeevani in your hands Issued relief when I was in ailing distress I ran to you when my nightmares Woke me up in cold sweats and shaking with stress With a wave of a hand And an incantation of your voice You chased all the ghosts away Turned off all my mental noise {sidebar id=22} You taught me to hold a chalk Held my hand through my first alphabets Gave me my first paint-brush to wield Told me my senses could be fine-tuned instruments You rejoiced at my silly victories And comforted me in my foolish defeats Told me the same stories again and again Never growing weary of those irrational requests to repeat

When I grew older I saw who I would be in old age When I looked at you Your wizen yet noble and wise visage At the end of my hardest day When I’m worn out and breathing raggedly Your memory gives me succor And your words ring in my ears ever steadily

Even in your last moments You held true to your word You didn’t give up your final breath Till you met me one last time at that momentous crossroad As your vessel finally lay Lifeless still, in calm repose I know your spirit merged Back into the Primordial eternal source

Even today, Or until the end of my years... Your noble memory Will wipe my most anguished tears Be a good human being and please all our ancestors... May I live to be (to someone) all that you have been to me Hear this, my ode to you my grandfather... From now on till eternity