Indebtedness to father

On lonely nights when sleep eludes me
Doubtful mind of mine is in turmoil
A thousand queries which only you can answer
Lurks as a pain or debt between us.

With a broken heart I like to recall you
As the most miser man in expressing love
Yet I could imbibe your adoration mutely
The untold words of you will haunt me forever

You were a recluse to the world of books
Were you seeking refuge,
From vices of this big bad world?
Though your penchant for reading is awesome.

Your grandpa dared to expose malpractices
Through writing, for the very reason
Was stripped of his assets and fame
Is it that made you a man of few words?

Though laconic, on very rare moments
Words of wisdom you spoke to us children
A stickler for cleanliness both inward and outward
You were just and efficient at work

Why have you left us so early in life?
It so happened in this birth only,
That I am your daughter
You are my mentor, me the under study.

As your name suggests you are a beacon of lights
All of us get influenced by your demeanor
I pray your guidance will lead me the way.
Wonder with what I will pay my indebtedness (pitru runa) to you?

Reviews

[Neha agrawal]

This poem is a **tender yet piercing elegy**—not for a father who was loudly affectionate, but for one whose love was **quiet, bookish, and etched in unspoken lessons**. It’s about the **debt we can never repay** to those who shaped us in ways they never announced.

[prema]

Thankyou Neha