She Inspires Many Canaries


My song had lilt, she used to sit on window sill and smile.
Mindlessly staring at me, holding her only child.
Her kohl was smudged, she swallowed her pain.
She walked freely around the house but her soul was chained.
Past noon, she held her baby close to her chest.
In those empty moments, she often wept.
I sang happy rhymes, painted all that was grey.
I told her many times, people do go far far away.
I was a lost canary but she was more adrift than me.
Pregnant and lost her husband when she was only twenty three.
It saddened me, her sorrows didn't ebb.
Her husband did die but she was dead.
I abandoned her, she never came back from his pyre.
Burning herself each day in that fire.
But like a phoenix, she rose nevertheless.
Churning sorrows into strength that she never expressed.
She built an ebony closet, stacked all her pain in there.
Armored with self-belief with no sorrow to share.
No knight in shining armor, she stood by her own side.
Her head held high, with hard work and pride.
I don't sing for her now, she penned her own song.
How to rise from nothing and be strong.

*Two years back, I wrote about my friend who lost her husband in a car accident on her birthday. She was pregnant and she delivered a baby girl. It fills me with pride and happiness that she, inspite of her problems, worked hard and is now working as a Probationary Officer in a reputed bank.

Salute to all those who never give up in the toughest of times. They are truly inspiring!

Comments

  1. God bless her... this is a wonderful tribute. Sometimes you don't think you are capable of immense courage under duress until it is the only option left to you in life..

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very sad but thrilled to know she was able to tap her inner strength and placed a good head above her shoulders. It is easier said than done. I will never be able to fully understand or realize her plight and the tough journey she had to embark upon, but today I am proud of her and want to show my respect to this amazing lady. God bless her and her little angel, who actually gave her enough reasons and all the right purpose and direction to their life....Bravo and my heartwarming wishes to her. Great words especially "She build an ebony closet, stacked all her pain in there.
    Armored with self-belief with no sorrow to share." ...Very clever choice of the word "ebony" ....

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kudos to the brave girl for fighting hard against the odds! Very few have the inner strength to do this, Saru!

    ReplyDelete
  4. A wonderfully moving post. What a strong woman your friend is.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A good tribute to your friend sharing her sorrow...she indeed a brave woman.

    ReplyDelete
  6. beautiful... how absolutely beautiful your poem is. It's inspring to read about their stories and how they have overcome the challenges.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow! Her story is so heartbreaking, yet so inspirational. More power to her and every woman in the world. So beautifully you have penned it, Saru. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I remember reading that poem of yours. It was very touching and sad.
    This one is even more touching but it's not sad, and since it's on a true story, that's a welcome change.
    "Her husband did die, but she was dead" is reminiscent of the emotion transpired in your earlier work and it's the most beautiful line of the poem.
    Great to know about a Phoenix in a beautiful poetic way!

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a beautiful poem. God bless your friend.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Well written.
    Filled with emotion.

    ReplyDelete
  11. God bless her and beautiful poem! Very Touching :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a beautiful poem. God bless her. Salute to the brave girl for fighting hard against the odds! Very few have this courage and the inner strength to do this, Saru ji

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sad story. Happy ending.
    My salutes to the mother and to you for your empathy.
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Poignant and beautiful

    ReplyDelete
  15. May she get the best in life. Truly inspiring Saru. Very well written.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Best wishes to your friend and such a touching post Saru. Salute to her and everyone who never give up :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. All words fall...... A very inspiring poem, Saru. A heartfelt salute to the spirit....

    ReplyDelete
  18. Truly inspiring and yes life's a test and gives opportunities in the form of difficulties, problems and shocks. Those who face and get through these times, do succeed in making their and other's lives better.

    ReplyDelete
  19. This was so inspiring!!!!!! I am sure that she never knew that she had the power and the courage to rise like a phoenix....but she did. We all have the power.
    This was beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  20. More and more strength to your friend...Her life is no less than an inspiring story..

    ReplyDelete
  21. I had goosebumps reading this and a lump in my throat....why God to be wise thou rob us of the happiness?

    ReplyDelete
  22. One of the best way one can tribute :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Inspiring post indeed ! Life is how you see it and not how situations make them !

    ReplyDelete
  24. A brave woman ... May God give her more and more and more! And such a wonderful poem Saru...

    ReplyDelete
  25. God Bless Her For Next Journey

    High Page Rank List For Seo

    Increase Your Website Traffic ...BOOM !! BOOM !

    ReplyDelete
  26. Very nice poem for her.. May she always be strong and happy..

    ReplyDelete
  27. She stands tall and forever will :)
    lovely tribute Saru !!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Touched my heart very deeply. Hats of to your friend and you for being there for her!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Very sad... I have a far relative who lost her husband and stood strong for her daughter.. Salute to all the mothers!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Very moving lines. The tough really get going when the going gets tough. Only in hard times, does the real steel in a person comes out.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Salute to your friend's courage. May she be able to excel in everything that she does and may she be able to live to be an inspiration to many. It is when I hear story of such people that all those not so trivial problems of life seem so meaningless.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Nicely penned Saru :-) Only the strong can rise from nothing! Best wishes to your friend :-)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Wow Saru! Your friend earned my respect, lots of good wishes and prayer for their wellbeing.... We all know blacks clouds would pass soon but those few days or months feel like a millennium... Sigh...

    ReplyDelete
  34. Wonderful tribute Saru.. We need to appreciate those around us who are the real heroes in their lives.. :)

    ReplyDelete
  35. like your friend you also rose to pay tribute to her!! hats off to both of you!

    ReplyDelete
  36. I had tears flowing from my eyes reading this :'( While reading the first half...sad tears...and by the end happy tears....
    A SALUTE to her!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. This is a wonderful tribute. Your friend is very courageous.

    ReplyDelete
  38. @Everyone - Thank you so much for reading! :)

    ReplyDelete
  39. This is the best poem of yours I have read, Saru. Reads like you are feeling very strong, too, while thinking of your friend's accomplishment. Do tell her I wish her all the best, and that I find her inspiring. As I do your poem :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will pass it on and thank you so much for a heart warming comment. :)

      Delete

Post a Comment

Bricks, brickbats, applause - say it in comments!

Popular posts from this blog

यूँ दो चार घंटे के लिए नहीं

Rewind - September 2023

Death of a Nation