Reverend Father

REVEREND FATHER
They left their homes
Donned the white robe
Left their country shores
Never thought of how to cope

What made them leave
what gave them that spark
only because I believe
they wanted our country to come out from dark.
Impart education, their motto
India – a newly born nation
 With an Insatiable hunger to know and grow
They packed their bags to this destination.

Their bags with a Bible and a rosary
Their hearts full of love
Desire further than nothing but to lift a nation out of misery
Instil characters into men and make them tough

Blackboard under a tree
Students not more than a few
Vision that only they could foresee
Enthusiasm that none could subdue

Reverend Fathers – they filled us with awe
Characters made of steel
Our growth they oversaw
In our land they dug their heel

Chests filled with pride
Students breaking into stride
Failures no more looked daunting
They instilled courage with mentoring.

Building blocks of knowledge
They led you through altar of learning
Gave your skills the steely edge
Left you with a desire and yearning

Shakespearian classics and dramatics
Debates that sparkled with intense semantics
Competition those were healthy
Built love for the vocabulary

King Arthur’s farewell
Saw father on top of the table
Engrossed in enacting English language nuances
Bewildered students immersed in the fable.

A tall strapping personality
Or sporting a diminutive frame
They all were strong on morality
With a forceful inner flame

Leaders that we boys of yore are today
It's nothing but their efforts and pain
That molded us in this way
To rise, fall and rise again

Those telescopes for Astronomy
They were your gift
For generations to observe as a testimony
You as those very shining stars in the sky now adrift

Games that brought in healthy rivalry
Bringing out skills one did not fathom
Team work and leadership that brought in chivalry
Drummed in the team, a rhythm

Dramatics Histrionics on stage
Foundations of leadership laid
Debates that were a rage
One’s reasoning skills weighed

Actors, artists, doctors, and engineers we may be
At heart, it's nothing but that spirit and lather
The toil, the sweat of the spirit that made us unafraid to face life and not flee
It's to thee we bow our heads, Reverend Father

They have as chosen ones to wear the habit
To go about and thrive in God's creed
Never did they let their own faith in our minds inhabit
But like chisels, they shaped our characters and morals indeed

Started as a hut
Today a monument of trust
The school that stands tall today
It was but a seed of faith yesterday

Recognition for them may be scarce
It’s that towering edifice called school
That stands testimony and is not a farce
For generations to make a journey so meaningful

Generations may come and go
Students irrespective of their caste color or creed
As they become men with fortitude and grow
They can never forget their great sacrifices indeed.