Torsoless, Bustless Poem by Bijay Kant Dubey

Torsoless, bustless stand you at the town square
With nothing to commemorate your coming and going,
Came you as a common man
And went you away as a common man
And we could never feel it
In the humdrum of our life.

Bustless, torsoless, ay without any bust or torso,
Raised in your name,
Just as a simple man came you
And passed away too
Without being under public gaze and glare.

No sculptor to sculpt you, no leader to garland you,
Nor to remember the services you rendered
As a common man,
But you too had the chances of being,
But chose you not to be famous and renowned
Rather than living humbly.

Bustless, torsoless, yes without the bust and the torso,
I saw you, found you,
No memorial raised in your name,
Commemorating your memorable presence,
That lived you by principle and philosophy,
Served and helped
As a humble citizen does it.

I salute you, salute you unknown citizen,
My hats off to you,
I bow my head before,
Open your eyes and see
What have I brought for you,
The posies of flowers from the wild woods
And it’s my homage to you, my tribute to you,
The rose-petals into the hands of mine
To sprinkle them over?