Skip to main content

Last Goodbye

We always part with hopes of meeting again sometime, somewhere in this lifetime. That’s what keeps the bitterness of parting somewhat at bay. Of course it is never easy to say goodbye to near and dear ones. But parting with realisation of the fact that we shall never meet again is something entirely different.

Generally, until it happens, we never really realise the intensity of the moment. We always have hopes alive in the deepest corners of our heart. We are a hopelessly hopeful race! Day after day we wake up in the morning hoping that it was just an awkward dream, we stay involved through the day hoping to hear that one call, that one soothing voice, we continuously keep looking back as we walk hoping to see that familiar smile behind, we return home hopefully hoping to see eternity behind the closed door. It’s only late at nights, as the world slips into deep slumber, that we realise what we have lost. A silent tear drops as if instantaneously and for once one doesn’t have the will to wipe away the pains. It’s not just the pain of separation, but also the pains of consciousness, of trying to accept the truth; the truth that no amount of tears, no amount of prayers can ever undo what has been done.

Last goodbye is usually the bereavement of someone close. But having to say the last goodbye is definitely equivalent to death, having to look forward to life alone or in separation.

Sometime in life I too have said the last goodbye to someone dear. Someone who still speaks to me in my dreams, someone I resort to during my deepest sorrows, with my deepest fears, someone who was gone one fine day without giving me the chance to say goodbye, without a chance to say anything. I have said my last goodbye to someone special long time back and deep inside I know I still wait for her today, with hopes of meeting in this lifetime or some other.

Finally as I end here today, I remember one instance from a movie I was watching a few days back. It’s called 4 Weddings and a Funeral starring Hugh Grant. There was this instance when one of the friends passes away and in his funeral, the best friend of the deceased recites a very touching W H Auden poem called Farewell Blues, which I feel is one of the most beautifully sad poems I have ever read (along with Tonight I can write – Pablo Neruda). I wish to share this poem in my blog because it has touched me, but for people who really want to enjoy the poetry, watch the movie, just for the poem.

Funeral Blues

W.H. Auden

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He is Dead.
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

Comments

  1. Priyadarshini GhoshDecember 3, 2009 at 6:16 PM

    Welcome back Mr.Writer! Sometimes silence becomes just too powerful.And when it breaks, it breaks with a bang.Saw it in your writing this time.I read your latest post thrice.Couldnt just post my comments at the first go.Was just too overpowered with emotions to write anything...Finally found some words to share.This article of yours is my pick of the lot...U just made me remember that famous line from one of my most fav love poems-TONITE I CAN WRITE ( glad to find its your fav too)."LOVE IS SO SHORT FORGETTING IS SO LONG." Wonderful piece of writing.I could relate to many of the instances of longing and yearning that you mentioned.I am sure many would be able to relate to it as they read your piece.And i guess as a writer, here in lies the appreciation that you seek for,that which will inspire you to write even better.If people can relate to your writings then the job is done...U did it.Well done !!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousDecember 5, 2011 at 11:32 PM

    moving..
    You rightly said 'We are a hopelessly hopeful race"
    last goodbye is a bitter truth which takes place in every mortal's life
    and " Funeral blues" perfectly depicts the bruised emotions of a being who had lost his loved one....
    touching!

    ReplyDelete
  3. DeepungsuDecember 5, 2011 at 11:42 PM

    Thank you, ma'am :)

    Btw, Priyadi, I completely missed out on ur comment earlier, what a mess! Thanks a lot, you are an inspiration :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJuly 24, 2012 at 9:46 PM

    Life is the best teacher, follow it till the end

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Let me know how you felt about this post

Popular posts from this blog

2441139

“Hello, 2441139, Can you hear me, Bela Bose?” Anjan Dutta sang this song a decade back. And yet, to some people like me, it still rings a bell deep inside. Although the original song is quite pacy, Mr. Dutta performed an acoustic version sometime back, with his son, Neel, which really melts the heart. This song has a special memory of my childhood. As a child, we always look at things at a different perspective. We seldom realise the intensity of the moment. “2441139” was a fun song for me and my cousins in Coochbehar. We play the song until the last part, where Anjan Dutt repeated sings “Hello, 2441139; Hello, 2441139....” We would dial 2-4-4-1-1 (back those days, telephone number used to be of 5 digits). An old lady would pick up the phone and we would bring the receiver close to the speaker of the stereo and Anjan Dutt would do the rest. “Hello 2441139, Hello 2441139...” Then it was growing up and stages of infatuations, understanding love and finally, falling in love. Unless ...
8 comments
Read more

How am I doing, actually?

For past 10 months, a lot of people have been asking me how I have been. And I’ve always maintained that I’m fine. But I guess it’s time I brush aside those fake one-liners and honestly ask myself, “ How am I doing, actually?” I thought I would give up blogging after Baba passed away. Yet here I am, remembering Him, and trying to make a comeback of sorts. I remember how He always encouraged me to write, saying that it was important to have different aspects of one’s life, and not just work till you drop. How do you cope with life after losing that pillar of your world? How do you get a grip on yourself and try to fix your messed up life? How do you take that step ahead, knowing that now there’s no one to fall back to if you make a mistake? Simple, You don’t. There’s no written protocol, no Standard Operating Procedure. Like they say, life simply doesn’t come with an instruction manual. I remember I used to have a decent life, not a care in life, no worries. I had my pare...
6 comments
Read more

Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji

Sometimes in life, you listen to a number and wonder if you are ever gonna listen to another good song. This is a fear most music lovers have deep within themselves, that maybe, one fine day, all the good music will be gone and we shall be left with only the nasal craps! Thankfully, our fears can never win over our faith and faith delivers yet again. Dil to Bahccha hai Ji is a sweet romantic melody about falling in love and it is so wonderfully composed that one can actually feel the emotions that make love so special. Rahet Fateh Ali Khan sings this wonderful number in “ Ishqiya ”. This song takes me back to that wonderful year in school, mid 2001 to early 2002, when as a class 12 student, I experienced that special feeling. The walks through the basketball court, with my eyes on the class 11 veranda in the second floor.. “Aisi uljhi nazar unse hatti nehin...” Love is magical when it happens to you. The many sleepless nights, the effortless smile from inside just at the sight of E...
4 comments
Read more

A year older, A year wiser – a blogger’s realization that time, in fact, heals all

What is the most common free advice you get when you are down? -           “ Time is the best healer” This has to be the universal counsel for people going through a low point in their lives. One phrase, translated in probably all the languages in the world, ending with a wise smile and a nod from the adviser. And every receiver of this free bit of good will has different phrases going on inside of them, all which basically reflect on one idea – “Wait till it happens to you, JERK!” Thankfully, I have come to a point in my journey, where I can have a say in this matter. I have, like the rest of us, always given free advices at will. In fact, this is something every person is capable of. I have, of course, used the widespread phrase Time is the best healer many a times, but the beauty of our world is that Aristotle was right; The Earth is, in fact, round. What goes around, unfortunately, comes around and about a year ago, the positions had ...
4 comments
Read more

A Letter to Dog-Heaven

How do you communicate with the departed? What if there’s no last meeting, what if You are 2 days late? In a first of its kind in my blog, I’m writing a letter to Dog-Heaven, where my beloved angel is probably spreading her love and her laughter… Dear Scamper, It’s been two months now, but I think of You every day. You are always in my mind. I’m sorry I couldn’t write to You earlier. I am sad. I am still gutted but I understand why You left my side. You have been fighting illness for the past 2 years and more, to the point where finally You had to give in. I am still hollow today, hurt beyond imagination at this loss. But don’t worry too hard, dear, I’ll make it through. I remember the first time I saw You, I remember it so clearly that I feel younger right this moment. I go back roughly 12 and a half years , that enchanting morning when the quirky 14 year old version of me rushed into the living room and saw You sitting solemnly in a little box. You little face was puzzled...
4 comments
Read more

Contact Form

Name

Email *

Message *