An old friend

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An old friend passed away today

He was genuinely old –

Rather too old

How he took to the changes of our world

I do not know.

Perhaps, that is why

He befriended children

Our last rays of hope

 

Perhaps every child in this bustling city

Was once his friend

Until we each grew up;

Knowing somewhere in the void

Our friend exists,

No need to meet

We are happy to know

Somewhere, he is there

 

In the midst of all our busy excuses

He chose to wait no more;

We will carry on

But somewhere, the part of us

That refused to grow, cries quietly

So many friends yet to make

But he chose to no longer stay –

An old friend quietly passed away today…

 

28th March 2026

 

Dedicated to Adwaita – the Aldabra tortoise at Kolkata Zoo, and the longest living animal ever recorded on Earth. Legends say he was gifted to Robert Clive after his victory at Plassey, making Adwaita over 250 years old – a marvel who was shown by one generation to the next at Kolkata for decades. Adwaita passed away in 2006.

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