For A Brother (Eulogy)

-->

Poetic Eulogy

Perhaps

You’re inspired by our uncle

Or, was it the push from grandma?

Or, was it a grace from Sarada?

Or, an affectionate gaze from Kanaka Durga,

Whose feet are constantly worshipped by the

Flowing waters of Krishna River?

Literature, be it Telugu or Sanskrit

Came handily to you

For some, proficiency doesn’t

Come easily, without studious hard work

And extreme application

Yet, some are exceptionally fortunate

They memorize and absorb

With a single pass

Like you they effortlessly

Succeed in tests with flying colors

During childhood

You teased and played with me

Many times

You never scolded me

Not even once; due to

Your esteem to mother

Your unique library

And a brand new bicycle –

They both took me to the

Limits of new worlds

The former showed me the

Myriads of Telugu literature

Ancient mythologies,

And Yoga, its secrets

The latter dragged me to the

Sanctum of Mangalagiri Swamy,

Famous for the jaggery syrup!

Chess, Origami paper cranes,

The world affairs – I learnt ‘em all

From you

Your kinship and intellectual

Friendship is a rare gift!

First you did your high school

In the Nrusimha-pura, then

The Bi-lingual Pundit course

In Modekurru, followed by

Diploma in Pundit in Oriental Literature

Then in quick succession

Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts

You accomplished them with

Self-study, achieving high grades

Right from home

Those summer holidays

The evening hours spent with you

They are unforgettable

I used to read haltingly

Fumbling at times the Sanskrit

Original texts of “Mrichchhakatika”,

Kalidasa’s works (sitting in front of you)

Though I later grew professionally

Into a scientist

Perhaps it’s due to your association

I imbibed some talent in

Music and literature too!

Your sharp intellect,

Your language skills and acumen

Your courage, your resolute determination,

Your unbounded affection for cousins

Your steadfast adherence to tradition,

Devotion and application to religion

They’ll remain in our memory forever;

May your soul successfully pursue

Knowledge, wisdom, and may it find

Ample fulfillment with riches and reach

The peak of eternal happiness. Amen!

(Thus I) Submit to Krishna.

(Copyright 2019 by the author, translated from Telugu original. Earlier I've posted this with the Telugu verse at Sulekha. A loss is a loss at any time. Yet some memories and people are unique and special. Spread over several decades I had only intermittent contact with my brother, perhaps never got enough time to share life's burden or exchange feelings. However, as I reflect now it seems we both intuitively understood each other; even the silence between us spoke volumes. As the famed sensitive Telugu lyricist (Aatreya) said, "The living represent (hold) the departed's sweet memories (ఉన్నొళ్ళు పొయినోళ్ళ తీపి గురుతులు)." If this poem conveys even a fraction of such poignant remembrance, then this writer has succeeded!)