AN ELEGY

The pride of long glorious ancestry, the pride and pomp of power, beauty and wealth are all subject to decay which is the inevitable fate of all. The glorious careers of men will also end in death.

Memorials inscribed with decorations or life-like bust cannot call back the dying men. The voice of earthly fame and honor cannot revive the dead men or words of flattery cannot produce any response in the dull insensitive ear of death.

Poverty repressed the creative energies and checked the smooth movements of the mind. They did not have the scope for education. They did not have the knowledge enriched by the passage of time.

Many gems of bright and pure colour lie hidden in the dark depth of the sea. Many beautiful flowers blossom in obscure corners unseen by men and they waste their beauty in the desert air.

Poverty prevented them from becoming great men and receiving the praise of the people. Because of poverty, they could not challenge the threats of danger and ruin or bring plenty and prosperity to their lands by good administrators. Thus they were deprived of the praise and appreciation of their countrymen.

Poverty limited the scope of their virtues as well as their crimes. They were not ambitious and did not commit murders to satisfy their ambition and they were not proud and unkind to others like rich men.

These poor men did not have the pains of hiding conscious truth and checking the genuine shame of hiding truth. They did not offer tributes of flattery and praise to the rich and the luxurious with verses.

These poor people of the village lived far away from the noise and crowd of people struggling madly for money and fame. They lived with their honest desires in the calm and solitary valley of life. They carried on their activities peacefully and kept the even course of life.

The dying man wishes a shelter in the loving breast of his dear one. He wishes some tears of affection when they die. Even after death man wishes some tributes of recognition and remembrance. The burning desire for remembrance remains even after death.