Farewell My Friend

You left,
finally,
leaving a few contrails of silence
in the sky of remembrence.

Shared tasks, chasing deadlines,
instructions, modifications, clarifications
and desperations
will never mean
the same again.

Tonight, when I change
the server password and mail it
to a list with your name struck off,
I know I will realize
with a tearing sense of forlornness
that you have not
gone on a long leave, instead
you have left
never to return !

( Dedicated to Pradeep )