bapanna, my village postman
a very polite gentleman
cladded in his khaki dress
each villager, he could impress

in a voice, melodious most
he would greet us, 'amma post'
and deliver a letter or two
at times some bundles too

his messages thus replacing
very links of memories missing
of those who left their nest
for north, south, east and west

one could know his arriving
from his characteristic humming
of songs and tunes very old
deeply touchy, of golden mould

troubled by sun in many ways
on those midsummer middays
he would seek us, 'water please'
to slake his thirst and gain some ease

at times, one would see him under trees
finding shade or little breeze
may be, the day saw him very tired
yet, his enthusiasm never retired

at times, he'd draw someone's attention
to a chat or a little session
discussing the current news
and put forth his original views

on occasions, atleast few
he cracked some jokes too
just to upbeat the dull mood
of someone in an ebbing brood

his mails mostly brought joys
unless left with no choice
on times when he had the wrong urn
he'd say, 'none is better than one'

alas! his philosophy in vain
but as he knew the color of pain
he would share his tears to console
adding comfort to an aching soul

when one is caught in anticipation
in full of worries and in tension
he would tell some words of hope
and prescribe him, 'a no to nope'

if one didn't know english or hindi
he would come very handy
in writing the 'to address'
with his multi-lingual prowess

now i left my native sands
and live in some distant lands
when i look back at the childhood bygone
bapanna flashes me as the indian icon

to me, umpteen stamps he presented
each of which has his love imprinted
so, when few praise my philately
memories of bapanna come back to me

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Poetry

Classic Collection

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