The poem could have been written for Mukesh. His duty was  his joy - so he lived music. 25 years before, on 27th August 1976, Mukesh breathed his last. But his melodies are live. They will remain alive forever and for time immortal, will enchant the world like the soft, sweet singing of humming birds.

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MUKESH 

" IMMORTAL FLAME "

 There was a sadness in your voice which stirred

Sadness to deeper sadness. Friend, you had

The quality which made all music sad ,

And in your voice the heard was the unheard .

We knew each other as a blossom knows

Fragrances and colour intermingled quite :

Your notes were the white petals of a rose

There was a dusk in them trembling with light .

Dear Friend, your music shall go on and on...

And we shall sob  when your sweet songs are played

On records telling us you are not gone,

But our sad hearts you shall not be betrayed

Lord ! How I sobbed  and choked when the news came

That you in flesh shall be no more, no more...

But in our hearts like an immortal flame

Kindled so clear upon the distant also

Of time which we shall have to reach , my Friend !

You shall await us who have done the winning

before us who stay back alive . "Each end,"

I hear you say, " is but a new beginning ."   

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" Vo suron ka devta tha jane kahan chupa hai

Hasrat ka dil use to rah rah ke dhodhata hai

Jo geet usne gaya vo geet hi amar hai

Logon ke saath uski vo preet amar hai

Uski sadayen uske naghmon se aa rahi hai

Jo dil dukha rahi hai sabko rula rahi hai

Ae dil Mukesh jaisa singer kahan se laoun

Meethi sadaoon wala dilbar kahan se laoun

Ye dour gayakon ka yuhin chala karega

Lakin Mukesh jaisa koi na mil sakega."   

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 " Mahfilon ke daman mein, Sahilon ke aas-paas     

Ye sadan gunjengi sadiyon tak, Dilon ke aas-paas"