In memory
of our beloved
Colleagues
who are no more
1. S.R. (Sunil) de Silva
2. A.R.K. (Russel) Paul
3. Dawne de Silva Paul
4. Bernard Randeniya
5. NiriellaChandrasiri
6. V. Ganeson
7. L.G.D.K. (Irwin) Herath
8. V.Kunasingham
9. B.L. Perera
10. B. Somasunderam
11. K.Sunderampillai
12. Tudor Wickramarachchi
13. K.N. (Kiththa) Wimalaratne
14. Anna PonnambalamSathiagnanan
15. A. Satchitananda
16. N. Sivakumar
17. T.A. Dayaratne
18. SidathJayanetti
19. N. Balakumar
20. KamaliNimalasuriya de Silva
21. K. Sri Kantha
22. P. Lucien Perera
23. Priya (Gunaratna) de Silva
24. Arul (Sivaguru) Balasubramaniam
25. W. Punsiri Fernando
26. W. Rajasooriyar
27. M.P.C. Jaimon
28. S. Vedavanam
29. Farouk Mohamed
There’s
a road that’s made of memories
Starting
from our med school days
Each
colleague left us souvenirs
As
we happily went our ways
Our
hope was that, of everyone
Having
a rich and fruitful life
Work
to be mixed with a bit of fun
Not
much in the way of strife
Then,
news of loss ofthe very first life
We
thought they were playing the fool
‘He
died with his kids and wife!’
Next,
‘who could just drown in a pool’?
More
losses unexpected
By
heart attack and accident
Each
sad news left hearts dented
Were
they an unfortunate precedent?
Lucian
rang me out of the blue
I am
in the UK and very soon
I’ll
visit you! Yes, it’s true!
Next
there’s an accident and doom!
Bala
was in real high spirit
Get
post-grad exams fast he can
He
will top the list of merit
And
bring pride, to his great clan
He
too met his death too early
Then
followed by Bernard and Dawn,
Hearts
broken we cried dearly
They
had just reached, life’s first morn
How
‘bout BL I met at a meeting
Anna
would come if we could take her
Arul
was sorry but sent a greeting
Then
they went to meet their maker!
We
spent time with such great mates
What
can be, the best five years
Suddenly
they go through Pearly Gates
Leaving
us, in real sad tears
Siva,
Satch, Sidath, Irwin
Leaving
too early, were our fears
Didn’t
you know we’d be grieving?
Crying
till there’s no more tears?
Priya,Kamali
Arul, you gave a shock
To
us all, you’re such close friends
Sri
Kantha, Bala you were our rock
Never
thought your time here ends
Tho’
each name not get a mention
Your
faces are truly carved in stone
You
are in a ‘period of detention’
We’ll
be with you, you’re not alone.
Zita
Perera Subasinghe(the poem) and Mahendra Gonsalkorale (the rest!)
Feb
2017
Zita and Mahen
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely tribute to remember those who have crossed the vale. I do not know who wrote it but feel greatly comforted reading this poem. It gives me that feeling they haven't gone but very much alive in the beauty of nature around us.
We will always remember them
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
(Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die!)
These words are really comforting, Nihal. It is philosophical too. 'I am the gentle autumn rain' is a good way to way to think. We've treated people, helped some to cheat death, but it has always been a mystery. Zita
DeleteMany thanks to you Zita and Mahen for this splendid tribute to our friends who are no more.
ReplyDeleteThank you ND for reminding us of Mary Elizabeth Frye's elegy.Surely one of the most beautiful poems ever written.
Our generation was immensely fortunate to have had English teachers who were taught by Prof EFC Ludoxyk, Professor of English at Peradeniya and the Classics scholar Prof JLC Rodrigo, a contemporary of SWRD at Oxford. I recall being mesmerised by the poetry of Byron, Shelley and also Wordsworth. Remember Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Rime of the ancient Mariner and the dark overtones of the doldrums and the flight of the albatross that brought doom and gloom. My English teacher brought them back to life by his brilliant recitation.
DeleteThankfully we have our own resident poets for the blog in Mahendra and Zita and I enjoy their poems enormously. My poetry skills are non-existent but I appreciate the wonderful poems modern and old. They have that special power to reach the parts like 'Heineken'.
May be I should have made it clearer. Bottom says Zita (poem) Mahendra (rest)! The poem was written by Zita and did the picture and suggested adding the list of our departed colleagues. I was very much the minor player and didn't want my name to go at all but Zita insisted, and I always do what I am told!
ReplyDeleteMahendra, you are the inspiration behind it all. And thanks, Kumar, Nihal, we can only talk in loving words about our friends who have gone but we can't talk TO them. So let's hope all celebrating our golden anniversary are enjoying every moment and making the most of it meeting and talking to one another. And thanks to those who put themselves forward to do the hard work so this great occasion is marked with a golden tick on our calendar of medical life! Zita
DeleteI have just sent out an amended Batch Directory and list of deceased members by e-mail. The late NCDM Gunasekara who joined us from Peradeniya has been added to the list.
ReplyDeleteDear Zita and Speedy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for those beautiful words that brought back memories of our dear departed friends.
We are all in the "Departure Lounge" now, but each time I tell this to my son-in-law, he says that I haven't still been issued with my boarding pass!
Thank you once again for keeping our blog "alive".
Sriani Basnayake
Dear Zita and Speedy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your beautiful tribute to our friends who are no longer with us. Speedy, I am glad that you do as you are told! Somehow, our gatherings are always tinged with a bit of sadness, because we cannot help but remember those who are gone. But, as the Elegy contributed by ND reminds us, they live on in our memories. Sriani, I hope we will be able to get you off the "Anonymous" list after the reunion. Cheers!
Well said, Srianee! That's the important thing. They never will die from our memory. And I agree with Sriani (anon). The Departure Lounge is a great analogy. I have been there a long time. Zita
Delete