Atal Bihari Vajpayee - Thank You For Free Education To Children (Poem For Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee) Poem by Bernedita Rosinha Pinto

I am gone, I have done all my duties and tasks
those which my nation expected from me
those that were within my strength and reach.
The blessings I asked from God, I always shared with you
and though I gave to you some of what my life beholds
my dreams were endless but I did what was good
to give to humanity the brightness of tomorrow
so that many children should go to school
and learn to write and read without any fees,
so that many of our brothers and sisters flourish
in their aspirations for which they struggle to achieve,
so that many of our young and old travel across
on those highways which inter-connect our cities.
What greater blessing did I not get in return
when I lay there on my pyre and you stood there
with heavy hearts, concealed tears as you saw me go,
with a silent prayer and a silent farewell on your lips?
Was that not a greater pride for me to have my friends
standing there together with due respect and watch me
as the flames engulfed me and made you weep inwardly?
I have gone now but when upon the fence of memory
you will recline and perhaps recollect of me
remember to share your blessings with others just as I did
to enhance the life of those who need the chance
to come up in life, status, equality and freedom.