THE TALE OF MERRY DAN

         1)          With entertaining talk he made us laugh

                       With dramatic gestures and vibrant wit

                       For hours together he made us sit

                       But never hurt others, mock at or scoff;

                       A perfect gentle, well-bred polished man

                       All fondly called him ‘Merry Dan”.

          2)         A man of learning and literary skills

                      He spoke with ease on any topic a lot

                      As a worthy scholar full praise he got;

                      To hear his talk infused a sense of thrill

                      Well-dressed with decent manners clean

                       A prolific,fast reader he had been.

          3)          Right from his boyhood days till present date

                       With meticulous details he did narrate

                        About his relatives and his classmates;

                        He excelled all in every event he states;

                        He wrote inspiring letters with ease

                        His jovial mirth with age doth not decrease.                          

                            
                   

           4)          A string of diplomas did he acquire

                        Within a short duration without much strain

                        So swift and dynamic his nimble brain

                        No topmost rank or fame did he aspire;

                        He managed all with a merry countenance

                        He never seemed perturbed or tense.

           5)          The same old jokes did he always repeat

                         But none felt bored but laughed with glee

                         His dramatic tone and apt gestures free;

                         With keen outlook and humor discreet

                         Took off the blues from every heart

                         His merry company everyone sought.

           6)           Though for duty he came from a distant place

                          Never had he showed an exhausted face;

                          He made his days an enjoyable race

                          With quick-witted smiling dynamic face;

                          For hours we sat in his favorite spot

                          A wayside stall to drink coffee and chat.

           7)            His wayward son disturbed his mind a lot

                           His mounting debts and gambling debts;

                           Dan bore his cares and never did he fret

                           In friendly company relief he sought;

                           His preaching skills in church mesmerized all

                           His pious and humble ways attracted all.

           8)            A gradual change came over as time went by

                           His careless son set right his erring ways;

                           Procured a job in a faraway place;

                           To get a better job his son did try

                           A tragic accident upset his goal

                           A terrible blow, too hard to console.

           9)            Depressed and dumb like a stone Dan sat alone

                          He lost his quick-witted talkative skills;

                          He stood silent beside the window sill

                          He mumbled in a slow melancholy tone;

                          He left this world without long-dragging disease

                          The happy memories we spent will never cease.

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             5th March, 2019                                      Somaseshu Gutala