"Gifts remain" [villanelle]

Ring the gongs   & sound the grave shehnais
Raviji  has exited this realm
let a mist of tears  becloud your eyes

wide he was   & deep  & bright  & wise
surf-rider    on music's mystic whelm
ring the gongs   & sound the grave shehnais

every plucked sound resonates   then dies
oceanic silence    gnanis helm
though a mist of tears becloud the eyes

what's the world?   sheer fact?  or thick surmise?
truth eludes    till mind achieves deep calm
ring the gongs   & sound the grave shehnais

market day!   one sells  another buys!
all's recorded    on a secret film
even mists of tears that cloud the eyes

gifts remain   when givers break life's ties
thanks resounds   & love's indeed pure balm
ring the gongs  & sound the grave shehnais
let a mist of tears  becloud your eyes


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In memorium Pandit Ravi Shankar