Sacred

Oh captain, my captain, you are a role model for me,
Because growing up to become a gem like you is all that I’ve aspired to be.
A smart, handsome man who is deeply adored for brightening up every room he enters,
And is deeply revered and admired by every crew member he mentors.
I feel blessed to have inherited your charm and invaluable qualities,
Or else I would’ve been dull and one of them oddities.

You were a simple village boy who faced adversities at a tender age,
You used it as motivation to stand on your own feet and turn the page.
The path you chose to make ends meet must’ve seemed thrilling at first,
Sailing across nations on a ship, till your family became the water you wished for to quench your thirst.
We deeply admire the sacrifices you’ve made to give us a trouble-free life,
No wonder you’ve been rewarded with such responsible kids and an amazingly understanding wife.

Your presence at home always makes us feel elated,
Whenever you’re away at sea, we all feel so incomplete and jaded.
I know you would’ve preferred to be there for us more during our childhood,
But you’ve been a great dad regardless, you’ve done the most you could.
I reminisce those evenings spent with you playing sudoku, jumble and solving crosswords using your super old dictionary,
I’ll always be grateful to you for sharpening my mind and expanding my vocabulary.

I consider myself fortunate to have you in my life and be your son,
The little time we’ve spent together over the years have been nothing short of fun,
Having a few drinks, exchanging stories, listening to old music and talking about life,
It’s been a privilege to be able to share these moments with you and get some life-changing advice.
I cherish the bond and relationship that we have developed over time,
Knowing that you have unwavering faith in me always makes me feel like there’s no mountain high enough for me to climb.

You’ve been more in touch with your emotions since becoming a senior citizen,
Longing to spend more time with all of us than being in the Captain’s den.
I know you’ve worked hard for far too long and should soon retire,
So that you can relax, spend more time with mum and do whatever you desire.
And..since you might begin to forget things and your memory might get faded,
I want to remind you that it’s you that completes us and makes our family so sacred.

The Sole Conqueror of All Miseries

Our parents were blessed in mid-January of 1993,
Giving birth to a cute Indian kid who looked more like a firangi.
Little did they know you’d grow up to become the family treasure,
And the brother that they’d give you 3 years later would love you more than any scale could measure.

You were always the quiet, reserved, diligently intelligent kid,
Realised it early that a small circle held more value than having many friends did,
I’m grateful to you for exposing me to a multitude of stuff,
Sports, music, shows, video games..you influenced my life more than anything else could’ve.

It’s funny how we were polar opposites when equated,
To the extent where nobody really thought we were even related,
I guess the way we fought with each other publicly was the only proof,
Besides the fact that we managed to live under the same roof.
I’m glad that we eventually managed to create a bond so dear,
And I know for a fact that we’ll always maintain it irrespective of whether we’re far or near.

Even though I’m the younger one, I’ve seen you grow too over the years,
Fighting everything on your own and holding back the tears,
No wonder you’re so strong, courageous and brave in our eyes,
The way you’ve proved everyone wrong with your resilience fills me with pride.

You don’t know how good it feels to see you happy and settled in Canada now,
Figuring and sorting out personal and professional life, making others wonder how,
As a result, we haven’t met often…I know we’ve been used to living apart for a while,
But I hope we meet soon, because not being able to be around you for so long makes me feel vile.

From Ekant to Rahul, I’ve seen the transition and evolution,
I believe that your experiences have led you to be your best version.
You’ve had to overcome a lot of hurdles along the way,
Weathered the storms of life to see the sunny parts of each day,
I feel so fortunately blessed to have you as my elder brother,
And even if I don’t say that enough, just know that I’ll be there for you forever.