His ideas and ideals

His pen, his might

He said all things right.

Many approved

And many were incensed.

He was mocked

His words tossed

And in inferno he burnt;

Boldness and bravery –

The symbols he stood for

Turned to ashes

And to dust.

Oppressed and threatened

He buried his ideals

Drove a stake through the grave

Piercing the heart…

Never to rise.

She fell in love with his words.

The embers of his ashes kindred her soul

He lived in her…

The way she remembered,

Larger than life

Mirroring courage and strength.

Yet, he fell…

She could not understand his human folly

Or the reason behind it

Without his ideals

He was no longer her hero.

He didn’t appeal to her now

Nor his handsome face,

Money or fame could sway her.

She took up his case

To resurrect what was dead

With love and persistent

She dug up the grave

With patience and diligence

She struck…

Cleared years of muck

Breathed life into his

Long forgotten soul…

The Traveller finally found his home.

Based on the protagonist of A Thousand Unspoken Words by Paulami Duttagupta