An Ode to the Telegram

BEFORE THE DAYS OF CONVERGENCE - STOP

AND THE ERA OF MOBILES, FACEBOOK OR INSTAGRAM - STOP

WHEN THE WORLD WAS AT DIVERGENCE - STOP

THERE WAS A FACILITY CALLED THE TELEGRAM - STOP

IT USED TO BE DELIVERED BY A HUMBLE POSTMAN - STOP

WHO CYCLED MILES ACROSS THE HINTERLAND - STOP

AND WAS THE BEARER OF URGENT NEWS THROUGH THE TELEGRAM - STOP

WHICH CONNECTED THE WORLD TO PLACES IN MANY A LAND - STOP

ITS ARRIVAL ACROSS THE WORLD IN ANY A HOUSEHOLD - STOP

BROUGHT ABOUT A SENSE OF THE OMINOUS - STOP

FOR IT COULD CONVEY SAD NEWS IN A MANNER SO COLD - STOP

AS WE OPENED IT WITH TREMULOUS HANDS SO CURIOUS - STOP

AT TIMES IT BROUGHT US NEWS OF A JOB OR AN INTERVIEW - STOP

WHICH MADE US JUMP WITH JOY AND REALLY GLAD - STOP

IT ALSO BROUGHT US NEWS OF BEREAVEMENT OF BELOVED FEW - STOP

AND THEN DID MAKE US MOURN, REALLY SAD - STOP

THOUGH THE TELEGRAM APPEARED CURT AND TERSE - STOP

WITH SENTENCES PRINTED IN CAPITAL LETTERS - STOP

ITS MESSAGES WERE FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN MY VERSE - STOP

AND COULD PUT TO SHAME MOST, IF NOT ALL EDITORS - STOP

THE MOST DRAMATIC OF ALL THESE FEATURES - STOP

WAS THE WORD STOP AT THE END OF A PHRASE - STOP

THE BEST PART WAS THE TELEGRAPH WIRE - STOP

WHICH CRISSCROSSED THE COUNTRY LIKE A MAZE - STOP

UPON THESE CABLES THE KITES I FLEW GOT ENTANGLED - STOP

THESE CABLES WHICH CARRIED THE MESSAGES SO DIRE - STOP

WERE FOUND AT EVERY NOOK AND CORNER WHERE OLD KITES DANGLED - STOP

MUCH TO MY OWN AND MANY A KIDS IRE - STOP

THE CABLES TRANSMITTED MORSE CODE - STOP

WHICH DID BRING IT HOME IN THE FORM OF A TELEGRAM - STOP

AND AS I WRITE THIS SENTIMENTAL ODE - STOP

THE DOTS AND DASHES ARE REPLACED BY TEARS - STOP

WHATEVER IT MAY HAVE BEEN - STOP

IN THE FUTURE IT WILL NOT BE - STOP

AND ITS LAST DAY WE HAVE SEEN - STOP

FOR THE AUTHORITIES HAVE DEEMED IT TO BE - STOP

SO MY DEAR TELEGRAM, WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOUR STYLE - STOP

OF CRISP, TERSE AND CLEAR MESSAGES THAT END WITH A STOP - STOP

THOUGH I HAVEN’T RECEIVED ONE FOR QUITE AWHILE - STOP

WE WILL MISS YOU AND THINKING OF YOU WILL NEVER STOP - STOP

THE POOR MAN’S FRIEND AND MESSENGER OF ALL TIDING - STOP

WHICH LIKE THE END OF EACH SENTENCE IS COMING TO A FULL STOP - STOP

WILL NOW GO INTO THE ARCHIVES OF HISTORY TO REMAIN IN HIDING - STOP

SO MY DEAR TELEGRAM, AS YOU COME TO A CLOSE WITH A CAPITAL STOP - STOP

I BID THEE FAREWELL WITH A VERY HEAVY HEART - STOP

AND THINKING ABOUT THOSE DAYS, I WILL NEVER STOP - STOP

The Government of India has decided to discontinue the 160-year-old telegram service in India from 15^th July 2013 due to massive losses, sparking a feeling of nostalgia amongst civil society and the media.