A battle with death!
What a battle it will be!
I had no plans to take her on, We had not agreed to meet at that curve,
Yet there she stood, blocking my path
Looming larger than life.
How long does death last? A moment, perhaps two —
Life is a sequence, beyond today and tomorrow.
I have lived to the full, I will die as I choose, I will return, I have no fear of letting go.
So, do not come by stealth, and take me by surprise,
Come, test me, meet me head on.
Unheeding of death, life’s journey unfolds.
Evenings sketched with kohl, nights
smooth as the flute’s notes.
I do not say there was no pain,
There were sorrows, of my own and of this world.
– by Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Rest in Peace, Dear Poet. Rest well, beloved leader. Recharge those vibrant senses. Sharpen that razor sharp wit, show us the empath in you again. Show us the powerhouse statesman in you! A diplomat par excellence and an embodiment of the finest human values! Your legacy lives on.. You live on. In our hearts, our minds, and our actions. Fare thee well on your final journey!
25 Dec 1924 – 16 Aug 2018