The Division Bell

“What shall we use

To fill the empty spaces

Where we used to talk?

How shall I fill

The final places?

How should I complete the wall?”

You introduced me to Floyd. To music beyond my North Calcuttan sensibilities, to music that would take me to realms unexplored, that would make me see life in a different way.

“The rain fell slow, down on all the roofs of uncertainty

I thought of you and the years and all the sadness fell away from me

And did you know...”

You introduced me to a new world, a world where life still seemed to be stuck in the seventies and yet the times were so beautiful. I had always loved to write. With you, I wrote what I remember as my first mature article.

“Beyond the horizon of the place we lived when we were young

In a world of magnets and miracles

Our thoughts strayed constantly and without boundary

The ringing of the division bell had begun”

What had stood the tests of time suddenly went away in a moment. And having survived it once, I was sure of the unflinching strength of our individual characters which would help us to survive. I could not even fathom the pain you were in and slowly things fell apart.

“It doesn't have to be like this

All we need to do is make sure we keep talking”

But we can’t and I have no one to blame but I believe in eternity, I believe in stories that you once told me and I believe in life as it should have been

“And with these words I can see
Clear through the clouds that covered me
Just give it time then speak my name
Now we can hear ourselves again”

(Floyd on a Sunday is beautiful)