Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar Poems

Jealousy is ugly and does evils.
The have-not get it for the have ones,
And build hatred towards the fortunate
With a brewing mind for a sabotage.
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Man pursues and woman eludes in love.
Man advances and woman slips in love.
If she resents him, he must stop with that,
Failing which, she can run away from him,
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Equal distribution is not freedom.
Equality in wants and aptitude
Cannot be achieved to ensure freedom.
Prisoners, of course, enjoy equality.
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An old yellow leaf falls;
A young green leaf sneers.
The old leaf was not irked
For as young it did same.
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Rose spelt will not smell; help said will not help.
Thought translated to action is the need.
Lip service and sweet words deceive people.
Volunteers are more than priests to serve.
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One rides to power with a group's support.
The group is sore that he supports it less.
He will not antagonize it either.
To ride a tiger is safer than dismount.
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Though right, be not right on matters
On which the authorities are wrong.
Though right, be not right on issues
On which your well wishers are wrong.
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How dear we were
Once, as brothers and sisters!
Once no more are our parents
and we ourselves are parents,
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Driven by money,
One loses friends and kin.
Driven by sex,
One has no qalm or shame.
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The child has not got shame;
The old have shed their shame.
The mighty are immune to shame;
The lowly haven’t built shame.
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