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

Kannan G

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/i-baba-amte-1994-worship-of-the-leprosy-afflicted/