(q - Baba Amte - 2008) In The Twilight Of His Life Poem by Kannan G

93 and struck with a disease deadly
And see, still so very nature-friendly –
“When I die, burn me not, bury me, ” said he,
“I want to mingle with the soil, freely!
May I turn manure for many a tree!
The wood needed to burn me can be
Used for better things,
For cooking food for hundreds, you see! ”

93 and struck with a disease deadly
And see, still so very nature-friendly –
Every sunrise and sunset he still would see!
This man who built as fine as poetry
Even a ‘Monument for the Anonymous Tree’
Still speaks for them so much, so fervently!
He loves to nurture nature
For feeding today and for posterity!

93 and struck with a disease deadly
And see, by nature still so friendly –
He would wave at lovingly and wish everybody
Who would come across him; his debility
Never weakened his humility, his hospitality!
He had the power to inspire even silently!
The warmth and the strength
That lay in his eyes would speak eloquently!

93 and struck with a disease deadly
And see, by nature still so friendly –
Even a few hours before his final farewell, he
With his disposition warm startled everybody:
As the doctor held his hand for injection ready
Seeing a child he stayed the doctor immediately
And as if of more value
Shook hands with the child so affectionately!