When my father died
I thought the world would stop
or at least, pause
to reflect on a life
of achievements and success,
of what he meant to us all
family and friends, students and teachers.
But life just marched on
and he was gone from the present
not part of our future
now only history
– forever a memory.
So, before the tyranny of routine
and the compulsions
of our bodily needs take over,
let us take pause, and spend a moment, or two
– to remember our good friend Pratap.
Pratap lived a big life.
Always curious, always thinking,
never afraid to voice an opinion,
and often reserving the most scathing attacks
on himself for the mistakes he had made,
– and what he still hadn’t learnt.
Behind that steely determination to win
and the fierce expression of his opinions
was also a gentle spirit
always reliable, always available
– the first to reach out when help was needed.
He was an original.
And originals will always be missed.
Because there are so few of them
– in a world seeking anonymity.
He presented me with his book of poems.
It couldn’t have been titled better
– Straight from the Heart”.
