Dear great girl,

My heart writhes in pain,

My mind brimming with memories,

I want to say goodbye to you.

It may be that I will not see you again,

It may be that I will neither be able

To kiss nor touch our baby

Who is gloriously growing

In your rich womb.

 

Great girl, I love you.

It is a lifetime love.

I feel no man loved a woman

The way I love you.

I love you and always will.

My love for you is etched deep

In my soul, in my heart.

 

I feel I am a surrendering soul.

However each receding tide

Gives way to a new one.

Great girl, don’t let your dreams die.

Nourish and nurse them, protect them,

And do those things which

You feel are right and should be done.

It is the longest goodbye, great girl

Goodbye.

 

Pramila Khadun

Dear readers, kindly note that it is after listening to a letter read by Prince Charles that I was inspired to write this poem. In fact, the letter was addressed by a First World War soldier to his wife.He never saw his wife and baby and passed away quietly fighting for his country.