To The Great Derozio Poem by PARTHA SARATHI PAUL

We are the trees of the same forest;
a pipul and an eucalyptus in a sanctuary.
Like an ancient forerunner and a paragon
you lead me in the midst of natural ordeal
towards the justice of our lofty undertaking.
But, I am just a miniature against your stature
of a skylark that dares to soar and hover forever.
Yet, this footling takes a solemn oath to play his part;
to worship the holy task and to sing as a modest minstrel.
Beg your blessing that I may practice the ideal virtues of yours
and spray them plentifully in my poems for pupils at large!
Better than this I have no other invocation or salutation,
O the preceptor of all teachers and a maverick poet.