We Are Quits Poem by Madhav Sarkunde

Ravenous and parched lips,
he entered Patel's Wada* and
in thin voice begged, ‘Mai
would you grace this mortal
with some leftovers? '
Patel flew in rage:
O lazybones!
Don't feel ashamed?
Take this axe and break
those woods for us first

The old man picked the axe
and broke cartload of woods
drained to the bone,
he settled down and
begged, Mai, water.
Patel again thundered:
O Duffer!
Be gone with you!
and thrashed him
black and blue,
as salt into wound
Patel threw at him
crumbs of Bhakaris**

Patel, grateful to you
I broke your wood
you broke my back
we are now quits
So said the Karma yogi
and turned to go away
into even crueler world.
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Note: This is a poem based on a great Karma Yogi Saint Gadage Baba's real life story in Amaravati district, Maharastra.1) * Wada -Haveli 2) Bhakaris- Chapatis of Jwor (Bread of Millet)