Courtesy: Google Image
“What a difference a day makes
Twenty-four little hours
Brought the sun and the flowers
Where there used to be rain
My yesterday was blue, dear
Today I’m part of you, dear
My lonely nights are through, dear
Since you said you were mine
What a difference a day makes
There’s a rainbow before me
Skies above can’t be stormy
Since that moment of bliss, that thrilling kiss
It’s heaven when you
Find romance on your menu
What a difference a day makes
And the difference is you
What a difference a day makes
There’s a rainbow before me
Skies above can’t be stormy
Since that moment of bliss, that thrilling kiss
It’s heaven when you
Find romance on your menu
What a difference a day makes
And the difference is you”—Maria Grever & Stanley Adams
Now,
at this very moment
I am thinking of her
who lost her husband,
a renowned singer*
in a road accident yesterday.
“What a diff’rence a day makes
Twenty-four little hours….”
He was only forty seven
and father of a six year old
girl.
In a green sari,
stunned, she stands
in disbelief,
beside the bed
Where lies he
among wreathes
and grieving followers.
Could we see her heart
now a stormy sea
where floated he
in waves of memories
upon brine water
that would not roll down her cheeks
but vaporize in the flame of grief?
“What a difference a day makes
And the difference is you.”
She stood firm.
Composed.
Resilience, thy name is Woman.
*Kalika Prasad Bhattacharya was a singer, researcher and a legendary exponent of Bengal’s folk heritage. He was killed yesterday in a car accident. Here in Bengal we are all heartbroken.
What a lovely tribute to the widow of your fallen hero. I hope your beautiful words find their way to her. Thank you for sharing.
I’m sorry for your loss and hers. You pay beautiful tribute to him and I hope writing this lovely poem brought you some comfort.
So very sad. I can see everyone is devastated. Women are indeed resilience. We weather unfathomable losses, yet keep on nurturing,giving, loving, enduring . And, at times, when our spirits rise, we are mighty. This is a beautiful tribute, Sumana.
So fragile and fleeting is life! You’ve captured life’s fragility and brevity in your poem, along with the pain that the bereaved feel.
Perfect. Yes, the well inside gathers the ocean while we deal, accept, wait for time to grieve. Love the question. Love the last line.
Sumana, what a beautiful tribute both to the singer and especially to his wife and his six year old daughter.
I used to dance to that song in my teens! And very romantic we thought it. Now you charge it with a different meaning, and your own words are even more beautiful. How sad for all concerned – and how moving her dignity, as you describe.
It is true, death takes us by the throat, throws us down, stomps us, leaves us weary. Yet, it is also an opportunity, and in the end, we know more than we did before. We will be stronger and deeper. I am so sorry for her, and for him, a life cut short, too short.
You remind me of how tenuous life is. Could be here today…maybe not tomorrow.
Powerful and so terribly sad. A strong reminder to embrace every day with those we love. So difficult to face such an unexpected loss. Prefacing your words with the lyrics made them all the more poignant. Thank you.
I couldn’t hit the ‘like’ button for this post 😦 What a loss for Bengal!
Thanks for such a wonderful tribute to the legend…and remembering his bereaved family…
Sad but beautiful words – a fine tribute.
Kind regards
Anna :o]
This is so very sad, Sumana. True how a day can make a lot of difference…we never know whether it will bring good things or not so good. He died way too young. Yes, women are many times resilient. (You know that.) But the pain of loss is deep, though there is most often a bounce back!
My condolences to you, Sumana and to everyone, in Bengal, on this sudden loss, of an iconic poet.May his words live on, through his daughter, as she grows older. and find her voice, to speak out, on justice, love, and heritage
Heartfelt condolences to all bereaved.
A beautiful tribute you have penned.
This in indescribably painful and stunning at the same time. I felt her horror and grief fantastically through your words.
My deepest condolences.
Heart-breaking lines, Sumana. And yet the resilient woman copes and saves her grief for the years ahead…