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Monday, February 6, 2012

The Sentinel


The icy wind, snow n chill
    Enough to freeze a faint heart’s will
In barren mountains n lofty hills
    He stands proud, the valiant sentinel.
 He loves his wife n cute girl
      Whom he left behind to mill
                                  He has solitude n swelling pride
                                        Loneliness, his everlasting friends tranquil
                                   I bow my head to the brave lad
                                         Who guards us all with might, still


PS Image kind courtesy Google

(Many years back I had trekked through Laddakh, in Himalayas and was taken a back by the wild beauty and wilderness. Every few miles, I noticed pickets on hill top where a lone solider stood. Today, morning, these thoughts came back and I decided to dedicate a poem to many such unknown faces that fight the nature and adversaries to guard us)

83 comments:

  1. A beautiful tribute to the soldiers of our country .

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    1. Thanks Kavita!A very small way of saying thanks to these men!

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  2. Beautiful and heartfelt dedication to the brave men of our country!

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  3. very well written.. conveys a lot about the soldiers heart.. way to beautiful..

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    1. Thanks, Single Girl! Feels good to read your nice comments:)

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  4. How lonely, cold and windy for the soldier! A fitting tribute indeed. Trust a soldier to applaud another and make the citizens aware of their sacrifices.

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    1. Ha, Ha, Zephyr! You got it right! Once a soldier always a soldier!Grateful to you for those kind words...

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  5. Wow, what a tribute to those really wonderful people called Solider .

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  6. that is a really nice one.. touching and awesome :)

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  7. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  8. *Delete my previous comment please*

    We often take our freedom for granted. But it's thanks to the valour of these selfless men that we sleep peacefully.

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    1. Purba,I am very happy that you feel this way! I hope more people realize this and do their bit rather than only looking after their selfish interests:)

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  9. Loved the line "Loneliness his everlasting friends..." Lovely poem in ode to those soldiers. Hope you have a great week!

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    1. Thanks Sam, for those lovely words!Yes soldiers everywhere have a hard duty to perform:)

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  10. loved the words written,i have myself been to ladakh and i think ur poetry is absolutely apt

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    1. Thanks a lot, Alka! I am happy that you liked this!

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  11. Great poem! Everyone proud of them.

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  12. Beautiful Rahul Ji. They are the reason, we are.

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    1. Chintan, coming from you, I treasure these remarks:)

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  13. Beautifully written Rahul ji... and salute to those bravehearts

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    1. Purvi, you are ever so gracious in your appreciation!A big thanks!

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  14. Beautiful poem. Memories last forever.
    www.thoughtsofpaps.com

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    1. Thanks a lot, PAPS for those beautiful comments!

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  15. Very right words for the soldiers of our country. We are living peacefully because of their sacrifice.

    I had seen them standing like this, when we went to Amarnath. All the way from Jammu to Kashmir, these lonely soldiers were standing in the edge of the road when it was covered by fog. I had tears in my eyes when I saw them because until then I had read about them, not seen them doing their work, which should be appreciated like you did here at least. Thank you, Rahulji.

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    1. I am so happy Sandhya, since you saw this with your own eyes and realize what a tough job it is , in a hostile terrain! A sincere thanks:)

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  16. A very well written poem and a befitting dedication. :)

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    1. Thank you, Ria ! A small way to convey my heartfelt gratitude!

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  17. Thanks for sharing such lovely post..:) Happy reading it, thanks a lot..:)

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  18. Wonderful lines for each and every soldier who stands at the country's border line and safeguards our souls by sacrificing the precious moments with their loved ones.

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  19. Oh wow... trekking in the Himalayas, I always wanted to do that.

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    1. Agnes, no place to trek better than Himalayas! Welcome to India:)

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  20. Touching. Also remember the putrid politicians who carve out kickbacks trading in the brave soldiers' vests, boots and coffins.

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    1. Umashankar , traders who believe in making money do not hesitate to sell their own kin what to talk about coffins!At least there are ordinary people who think of bigger and more noble things in life!

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  21. You are such a sensitive soul.;) What a lovely poem dedicated to those who indeed watch over us, scarifying at times their own happiness. The subject of a soldier leaving the girl he loves behind is very significant to me.;)
    Have a great day.:)
    xoxo

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    1. Zuzana, every human and his dedication counts! We need to count our blessings each day:)Thanks a lot!

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  22. Replies
    1. Thank you Valli and my since thanks that you followed my blog!You made my day:)

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  23. so amazing- in these short lines you have brought out so much tenderness and appreciation and reverence. I especially liked your lines-

    He has solitude n swelling pride
    Loneliness, his everlasting friends tranquil

    really loved those lines!!

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    1. Anjuli, a sincere thanks to you for your kind appreciation!

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  24. Beautiful poem Sir. You are proud of all of them...

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    1. Saru, I have a lot to thank people around for what I am today! You are ever so sweet to look at the beautiful aspects of life which you convey so well,through your WORDS:)

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  25. This is an admirable intent! I hope they can read your beautiful poem!

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  26. Loved the inspiration, dedication, words and rhymes! :-)

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    1. Thanks a lot Princesa Fiona, for those gracious words!

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  27. I would love to visit Laddakh, How lucky are you!! Maybe some day....

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    1. Thanks Gayatri! Laddakh is a treasure trove of natural beauty, and a must visit:)

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  28. An apt tribute to the soldier. Heartfelt!

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  29. Beautiful... and inspiring too..

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    1. Welcome to my blog, Puja! Thanks for your nice comment!

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  30. A heartfelt and beautiful poem and a wonderful tribute to all brave soldiers who protect us.
    Lovely words dear Rahul.
    xoxoxo ♡

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    1. Thanks a lot Dianne!Brave soldiers all over the world truly deserve respect!

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  31. and a beautiful tribute to the one .. because of whom we can sleep well at night ..

    beautiful Well said sir.

    Bikram's

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    1. Thanks Bikram, for those words! They mean a lot!

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    1. Thanks a lot, Sujatha for having liked it! A sincere thanks for following my blog! A huge coompliment to have a reader of your caliber:)

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  33. I love this tribute, Rahul. Its wonderful :)

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    1. A big thanks, Rachna for your kind words of appreciation:)

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  34. Amazing tribute! Well written and engaging

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    1. Welcome to my blog Sujana! Thanks a lot for that nice comment!

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  35. This is so moving. Words cannot do justice to the gratitude we should have towards our armed forces.

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    1. Thanks a lot Gayatri!Good to see you back after the birthday celebrations with those beautiful comments :)

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  36. It is such a wonderful poem, each word carefully selected and showcased! I loved it.. actually, you inspired me to pen a few lines( not so good though!) for my recent post :-), thank you!

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    1. Thanks Padmaja, for those lovely words!Wow, what a honor you bestowed on me!I am humbled:)

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  37. Beautiful expressions in your poetry! :)
    Enjoyed being here..

    Keep Writing! :)

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    1. Welcome to my blog! Thanks a ton for the nice comment, Simran:)

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    2. Thanks a lot Alka!Happy that you liked:)

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  38. Beautiful!! Nothing is so beautiful as a untouched mountain, even if you see some people when you are there:-) Lucky you that could go to Himalaya.
    Hope you have a happy weekend:-) Best wishes from Tania

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    1. very nice ..we salute our forces ..
      people who keep us safe and sound ... its needs guts and love for the country...
      Being an army officers daughter I can understand how much it takes to give yourself for the country ... its only their families who can understand rest jus enjoy the fruits!
      RESPECT THE FORCES!

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    2. Thanks a lot, Tanya! Hope you had a lovely weekend:)

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    3. Harman, I did not know that you too belong to the same fraternity:)Am sure you would have related to this post more than the most having seen different places your father was posted in your formative years!Thanks for the sweet comment!

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