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‘SMOTHERED MATE’ (Elegy on Phillip Hughes' cricketing death)
‘SMOTHERED MATE’
ELEGY ON ‘PHILLIP HUGHES’
(Phillip Hughes - An Australian cricket player who got killed by a bouncer on the cricket field)
Oh, Hughes! Your mortal remains may disappear;
But you have implanted great virtues in our hearts;
As you have begun to live in us like a God sent man,
Your fabulous character will no doubt sprout in us.
You so played the game elegantly and shot into fame;
Not so flamboyant but gracious in your own way;
Though the dressing room is to feel the vacuum you’ve left;
People would remember you for long and ‘Number 64’.
You and I might be cricketing enemies,
Though on the field there’s ‘Cricketing War’,
Off the field we are more than great pals;
That’s what makes us weep for Hughe’s fall.
Don’t you worry stout-hearted, sporty Australians,
We know you have a huge heart like Phill Hughes!
Though it’s an irrecoverable loss, we stand by you and mourn,
For we know we realize the sufferings of humans in distress.
No barrier stops us from mourning your sudden demise,
All that we see in our teary human eyes that’s so blurred
Is just the blow that was shot beneath your ears, and the way
You placed your hands on knees when the death knell rang.
We neither blame you nor Abbot; for it happened in just a split second;
It’s all a cricketing lesson that one needs to learn to be brave enough,
To make others know that cricket too, is a two edged sword!
Nevertheless, you have made us accept the stark reality of life.
Oh, Phillip! Your great character wouldn’t have made you a warrior;
But a gentleman who excelled not only in sport but in embracing death;
Don’t you know, the whole cricketing fraternity is in tears?
For they know, they can’t come anywhere near to console you.
Oh, Phillip! Neither you got a chance to celebrate your B’ Day;
Nor you survived the lethal blow to hear the chime of Christmas
Had you ducked and warded off the danger, we reckon
We would have had you by our side to see the ‘New Year’.
The whole cricketing fraternity is in tears; for we know the blow
Beneath your ear has deafened you to hear our heart-rending cry;
Our apologies in thousands we send you in prayers
For this; an untimely human loss, we aren’t able to bear.
Oh Phill! It was a terrible blow that no one would wish for;
Nevertheless, everyone is breathless just as you.
How could such a team-man like you, could die so young;
To leave your Dad and Mom and the cattle you loved so dearly?
You are too great a cricketer to wane off from the cricketing arena;
For you still live in millions of hearts enjoying love and adoration!
No one would forget your great qualities that Michel spoke off;
No doubt they would be nurtured by the millions who cry.
