A Tribute to Madhu

A tribute to Madhu: This poem is a dedication to the person who had lots of love to give me when I was alone. He is an inspiration for me. He had no money but the treasure he bestowed upon me.

I can remember his eyes,

They looked so tired always

Yet they seemed so happy…

Whenever they looked at me.

His name was Madhu,

The rickshawala of Bhawanipur.

He loved me purely and simply--

More so when no one did

Want me anymore. 

When I lived at

Woodburn Road with Ma,

He would bring big branches 

Of flowers and leaves

For me. He knew

I was a fatherless child.

My handmade, toffee wrapper dolls 

Would dance on the branches

And fill my world with glee

For I happened to be just 

A little girl with 

Nothing but childish wimps. 

We ---my Ma and I 

Went to see the many Durga Pujas,

He would pull the rickshaw 

And take us around,

Never tired

Never complained

We were happy, he was happy.

On normal days 

He took us to school 

He raced along with others

To make me laugh,

On the way

He was a friendly soul

And he cared for me.

I never realized then

He was walking barefoot 

All the time,

With our weight, pulling along

Wherever we went.

Ma was kind to him 

She gave him food and clothes. 

He said he had a daughter 

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Somewhere in the village, in Bihar

Just like me, nine years old.

I never saw her,

But he saw her, in me.

That day, when Ma died

I saw him there

He was crying so much

I felt sorry for him.

Maybe he felt, very sorry for me. 

We hardly spoke.

After that day,

He came to see my plight

Many times, always with something.

He bought cakes and cold drinks.

And he brought ----

His smile.

"Kush rahena", he said,

Maybe I did not understand 

Right away

Today I do….

"Be happy " It means everything. 

Then I went away to the mountains 

As God directed me

And I met him only once,

On a holiday

Didi said " He is so good to you. Give him a gift and say 'Thank you' "

I had planned that day 

When he was sitting there

Infront of me, 

Looking at me

With his same tired eyes

With affection 

"I will make it up, for you"

I said in my mind

But I couldn't 

Before my time came

He was gone……

Ela Mashima said " He had TB, you know".

I know, he had

He had … a lovely heart.

" A heart of gold "

As the saying goes 

Silently always in my difficult time 

He was there 

He encouraged me to grow

To be happy always 

And he showed…..me

How he was…..

Happy always, no matter what.