Ode to the Friend

An ode to the NGO, Snehita (which translates to 'Friend') Women's Health Foundation that work tirelessly in the area of breast cancer awareness. Snehita has always lived up to its name lending a supporting hand to the people in need. In the time of the pandemic when everyone was confined Snehita got more visibility by the efforts of the member volunteers through online webinars and media. A lot of online events were conducted in association with other institutes and organisations including the NSS, each of which was a success. I am a proud Snethita!

 In the highest tower Friend lit the lamp

To spread the missive as a beacon, 

Guide the multitude in the damp

And shepherd them till the war is won.

The crowd moved as a busy bee

To work, markets, park and beyond the sea

Engrossed in the work of the hour;

So busy, they never lifted their eyes to the tower.

The Friend stayed up and kept the lamp lit;

By morning and night with determination and grit

Little by little the message did spread,

To raise their eyes who were prepared.

A heavy, bleeding, hurting grasp,

Anyone in the clutch of the crab;

In pain of the tightening pedipalp;

The Friend did have the healing message of help.

Then came the damp killing mist,

Stole the souls of those who touched it or breathed.

Anyone in the streets fell its prey,

The crowd stopped venturing out for work or play.

In the confines of their home,

They cried out in agony and pain

They longed for the light but in vain.

Days were dark and damp, and nothing was the same.

In the solitude they raised their eyes high;

Far above the mist was the tower high.

They descried the missive it beaconed,

As they followed it, the clutches of the crab weakened.

The mist outside was dark and damp,

But now the crowd had eyes on the lamp.

The lamp that shed the ray of hope,

For liberation from the crab, a way it did ope.