REQUIEM FOR RAJESH KHANNA  (1942-2012)

Yesterday,  a star that shone ever so brightly

So full of life, ever smiling and sprightly

Has passed into the skies to twinkle from afar

And to many aspiring  actors be a guiding star

When first I saw him in Aakhri Khat in 1966

Searching for his lost child he seemed to be in a fix

A sallow and awkward youth, a sculptor  to boot 

Into the hallowed precincts of Bollywood he set foot 

Who could imagine that he would soar to such height

With spellbinding performances to viewer's delight

With the epic Anand  a tragedy too sad for words

In Aradhana, he and Sharmila looked great as lovebirds

IN Amar Prem he seeks solace in a courtesan's arms

Even in the badnam basti he throws around his charms 

 

Whether as a bawarchi wearing the  khadi cap

Or the dakia delivering letters wearing khaki cap

He was unparallelled   in his acting, this charming chap

Tossing of  his head, the bewitching smile,the twinkle in his eye

Made many a fair maiden swoon and say  hai hai  

The death scene in Anand I'll  remember with my mouth agape,

 "zindagi aur maut oooper wale ki haath mein hai"says the tape

Before it unwinds and all we hear is a stuccato noise  

His end too came in a similar manner, he had no choice

We are as bereaved as his family who were at his bedside

All we can do is pray for his soul- let peace abide

Epitaph  " Here was an actor.  When will there be such another?"