AN ORDINARY MAN

Mr.Prem died on Monday. 

Mr.Prem was an ordinary man. 

At the funeral rites, they remembered him.

Mr.Ravi thought of the time 

When Prem cycled thru' dirt and grime 

To get him to the nearest doc

When he could not easily walk.

Mr.Sundar read the daily paper

Not early ... just a little later,

Not his own but Prem's, untorn,

Lent to him every single morn. 

The small children loved the manner 

He gave 'em sweets to suck before dinner 

And helped them with their homework-

From which they always did shirk...

Small gestures that went a long way 

In adding some sunshine to each day.

A word of greeting on the busy street, 

A pat on the back for many he would meet;

Anyone always welcomes at his door 

From friends, he knew to the neighborhood bore.

Mr.Prem was just an ordinary man. 

A man of no distinction. 

Mr.Prem died on Monday. 

There were a hundred at the funeral. 

All the neighborhood remembered him. 

They would all remember him.

Living on in their memories...

An ordinary man.