Farewell to Thee

Oh London,A City of Tourists' delight
Everyone's dream to see U without fail
UR Culture and Heritage Rich and Splendour
Under A Monarch Popular and Wise.

I hail from India,a Land with Mystic Air
A Land rooted since Mythological Times
A Land You ruled over many decades
A Land resurrected now on its rise.

I know not why my son embraced You for his living
Though this made me visit you far more than once
Every time having stayed here for long
I now know You better than most others you know.

When I ask Myself the question
Whether all that I see in You
Is worthy to Replicate back Home
The answer I get,Oh London, is a No,an Emphatic NO.

Greenary,Clealiness and Discipline
Plenty and Bountiful You Have acquired
Surely worth to carry back Home
Beyond this I see nothing in U to admire.

The Silence on which You take much pride
Reminds me of the Silence Of Grave back Home
Devoid of any liveliness all around
I rather leave it for the Grave to hold.

Your not meddling in others' affairs
Did appeal me when I saw You first
But finding an Indifference in Neighbourly cares
It now appears to be more a self centred act.

Your Culture and Heritage truly Rich
But I find in it nothing to boast about
Tis no richer than what We have back home
Dating to periods long before your birth was known.

When I see the Children here spend their Times
In closeted doors be it in School or at Home
Outside weather playing truant at Will
Depriving them of mingling with Nature around.

I realise how fortunate we are back at home
Where Children together in open play
Midst Fun,Frolic and Joy galore,what a pity
Your children miss the joys of childhood days.

As I see my son with his kith and kin
Engaged in routine day to day chores
I see the Stress mounting in their eyes
Having to do everything all on their own.

It looks crazy for every Act
Minor or Major otherwise
One here has to do all by oneself
Devoid of any outside support.

Why my son chose U for his abode
I frankly do not know
Is it your external glitter clouding his sight?
He will then realise as he grows with age-anon.

What Destiny has in store for me
I also do not know
Tis God's will if HE brings me here again
Time alone will tell
With my growing age and failing health
As I prepare to go back Home,
For the moment I say but this
'Oh London I bid farewell to Thee'.

BAIYU------ London Jan 2008
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