I once knew a girl from the land of unity in diversity.

She told me stories of her beautiful country.

How the rich colors of the earth melded together into a silk tapestry

Where gold was pure as the hearts of her people.

She told me of Sunday picnics high on a hillside.

Envisioning her family amongst the elephants.

Where social workers taught women of many villages.

How to sell their beautiful hand made crafts in city markets.

And where the village women taught the social workers.

To create a beautiful connecting community…

She told me of place where Bengal tigers and black Bagherras roam.

Near the depths of jungle…

That the Taj Mahal trapped tourist’s imaginations.

To hold them hostage…

Until they fled away to the Yamuna river below…

Where parents lost their children to the North Atlantic shores.

Hoping for their return.

There once was a girl I knew who longed to return with her family.

To see Bharata once again…

Farewell my friend and thank you.

This Friday will be my co-worker’s last day working at the hospital. She and her family are moving south to a new state and a new city. Always the true social worker doing her absolute best for our patients and her colleagues. We had several thought provoking conversations about life in general and her life growing up in India. The above poem speaks volumes on the impact she made on me during her tenure. She would like someday to return back to India so her children could see elephants roam freely. The above photo of my finished painting I hope gives her children that glimpse of what their parents wish for them.