Today is Samvatsari, last day of the eight day festival of Jains. As I complete my fasting and reflect back, I really feel sorry for the strained relationship I developed with one of my friend. I'm not here to confess or delve into how it happened or whose mistake was it. It is just that it reminds me of the first poem I read which inspired me to hold a pen and start writing.
Around the corner I have a friend,
In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone.
And I never see my old friends face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell.
And he rang mine but we were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men.
Tired of playing a foolish game,
Tired of trying to make a name.
"Tomorrow" I say! "I will call on Jim
Just to show that I'm thinking of him",
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
And distance between us grows and grows.
Around the corner, yet miles away,
"Here's a telegram sir," "Jim died today."
And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
Around the corner, a vanished friend
--Charles Hanson Towne
On the pious occasion of Samvatsari, all I ask is for forgiveness for whatever I may have done that caused you any harm, intentionally or unintentionally through my actions, my words or my thoughts. May friendship never die.