The mind and heart

 The mind and heart

What the mind knows
the heart does not accept -
It forever longs to see my father
who was so special and dear to me.

What the mind knows
the heart does not comprehend -
Where did he go, how can this be?
That I'll never be able to see no more
My father so dear to me.

So today - a month later
I suddenly decided to see,
What it would be like to
let my my mind have a word with my heart
which so abandoned feels.

"And what would you like to know
Oh heart, whose grief appears to be
so inconsolable, and so bereft
to a mind as practical as me?"

"Where has my father gone,
when will I again see
the twinkle in his eye
that always lit up for me?

When will I hear again his voice beckoning to me
'Kutti...' he would say, his voice
booming, happy and free.

When will I hear him say 'hul-lo'
in that special drawl that was his,
when will I hear him ask for his 'master' -
that special name he had for my son?

When will I get another letter
written so neatly to me
always in reply to the one
sent on the date he referred to be!

When will I see his pleasure
at the beauty of a flower..a bird...a tree
when will I hear of his escapades
to a town - so far away from me?"

"My child, you've answered yourself
if you search all your words to me
For in your questions lie the answer
about your father, so special to me.

For you will see his eyes light up
along with that twinkle and smile
Whenever to your mind you bring
all those memories and wonderful times.

You will then hear his voice again
Call you 'kutti...'
You will see again his lovely hand
whenever his diary or letter you read.

You just need to close your eyes
and imagine calling him for free
irrespective of the time difference
to the place where he now seems to be.

You will hear his 'hul-lo' again
said in that special way that was his,
asking about 'baba' and your back
and about Raja whome he thought was the best.

And whenever you see a flower
a bird...a butterfly...atree
these things will always bring to your mind
a man as special as he.

A man who died as he lived
with unfailing spirit and glee
who always lived for the moment
and cared for those around him too.

A man who taught without saying
how confident and fearless to be
a man who corrected without raising
ever a finger to you.

A man who always brought a smile
to the faces of his children five
who left no cash, no will, no house
just a lot of blessings for free.

A man who was as special to me as to you,
 so dear heart please be free
as free as a bird, as your father
who was special to both you and me"