"Life is a phoenix, can rise from ashes...," thus wrote an emotionally moved President A P J Abdul Kalam during a visit to a memorial for Russian soldiers martyred in World War II in Moscow on Tuesday.

Kalam wrote the poem to mark his visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where the ashes of the Russian martyrs of World War II are kept.

• Kalam meets Putin

Watching newly-wed Russian couples getting themselves photographed at the memorial, the President wrote:
"Life is a phoenix, can rise from ashes
Presents a future at challenging situations
This altar of ashes is fountain of new life
War was thrusted, martyrdom shined
Memories of soldiers ignite beauties of life
Phoenix is a metaphor of life in its action
Ashes remind us to celebrate greatness of those lives."

The President handed over the poem to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during a banquet hosted by the latter for the visiting dignitary.

At the banquet, the Indian President was delighted to listen to two Bollywood oldies, Mera Juta Hai Japani and Jindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana.