The temple of body <br />Lay in ruins rocked by disease; <br />The innermost shrine <br />Lay ravaged, piece by piece. <br />This evangelic devotee <br />Who worshiped his brethren <br />Writhing in pain, <br />Could his devotion <br />Never restrain. <br />He took up the task <br />With courage. <br />So the temple stood again <br />Open to pilgrimage. <br />Its facade now <br />A little disfigured lay; <br />A few pillars now <br />Stood in disarray; <br />Still the shrine was now <br />Restored its lost glory <br />For this inspired devotee <br />Knew that the soul <br />And not the body <br />Was what was more precious <br />And holy. <br />He always treated <br />The wounds outside <br />But took more care <br />To heal the wounds inside. <br />Took more care <br />To feel and heal <br />The feelings beaten <br />The feelings frozen <br />The feelings stolen.<br /><br />Kannan G<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/i-baba-amte-1994-worship-of-the-leprosy-afflicted/
