Teacher Poem by Unnikrishnan Sivasankara Menon

बुद्धं शरणं गच्छामि ।
धर्मं शरणं गच्छामि ।
संघं शरणं गच्छामि ।।*

Tathaagata was eighty,
He had told Ananda that
he would leave this world
in three months.

He continued His travails,
they reached Kushinara
He knew
the time has come,

Spake thus He, "O' Ananda,
now that I'm leaving,
should you not think
that you have no teacher,

"at my passing away
Dharma and discipline
shall be your teachers."
Tathaagata's last words!

Note:
* the Buddha mantra-
Buddham śaraṇam gacchāmi.
Dharmam śaraṇam gacchāmi.
Sangham śaraṇam gacchāmi.

Translation:
I go for refuge in knowledge,
I go for refuge in teachings,
I go for refuge in community.