The little seedling

Happy 75th birthday Papa! Written in honor of my parents’ life journey on this special occasion. 

https://youtu.be/CbxHkhIUsew

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A little seedling from the small Mansa gao 
Stepped boldly into the big city of ‘dabad 
with scholarships and much hard work grew there he did 
And soon enough bumped into a fiesty four-eyed seedling he did 
Of course,
Love at first seedling it was. 
Some comedy of errors and meddles too
Led to a happy unison of the two
Together the two seedlings some storms endured.
Yet held tight to their values they did for sure
And cared for other seedlings in their garden demure 
They grew some and worked much 
And soon with mustered courage and passports too
Into the African terrains they flew
Faced with the unknown and not any one they knew 
But these seedlings were the most resilient that ever came
Making friends in strange lands that friends for life became
Exploring waterfalls and finding mangos 
The seedlings knew how to find joys in all things mangos
And chai on swings and beaches too

Now the seedlings were becoming roots anew

That gave rise to three other of their own
Yet forget they did not their seedlings back home 
We grow here and we water them too 
Was their motto true and true 
And grew they did 
And Frequent flyers they became
From safaris and pyramids to mountains and lakes
So many worldly corners they traipsed 
Yet these fearless Trotters of the globe 
Remained rooted in their goodness mode
Even when that wasn’t the easiest road to take 
Giveup they never did partake
While for others amassing things went untamed 
Simplicity is a way of life the seedlings maintained
Meaning, rich experiences and togetherness they proclaimed 
And joyous was their daily mantra ordained 
The best childhoods their own seedlings did have
Always made to feel safe and protected and loved 
Gave them courage to pursue their own dreams and plans 
In unknown lands
Out into the world they went 
Rich experiences to gain and mistakes to be made
But Uncoerced and with wings of their own remade 

Now the seedling from the little Mansa gao 
And his four-eyed partner in crime
Were full grown roots 
And suddenly faced with big changes to behold
Saying goodbye to their beloved home in the Coast of Gold.
Yet once again they bravely set forth 
hitherto
With positive outlooks they got reacquainted with the City of their youth anew

Now these roots have given rise to many branches
Don’t forget it wasn’t just their three that became five
but the many more that they watered as their own
These branches are growing in different directions for sure
Some fumbling or stumbling 
Many flourishing or frolicking 
But in their hearts all these branches do
Carry with them the light of their strong roots two
That inspire them to weather any storms that ensue 
And keep them striving towards the Sun 
Through and through 

And now
A truly inspirational 75 year life story 
Of the seedling from Mansa gao 
And his four-eyed pari 
Who Grew with all their might
 a truly blessed family tree 
Made of love
And of light 
Continues on 
this journey of life
With Many More adventures to unfold
And wisdom to be told. 
——