A06 Appearance Of A Lady Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

The three girls, in search
Of wood, had their march,
Down the rough roads,
And winding river beds.

A shortcut route they took
And reached near the brook,
That had to be crossed
Before picking up wood.

Marie advised Bernadette,
“You’re an asthma patient.
Surely the cold water will affect
Your health, while crossing it.”

They two left her alone,
For the health reason,
But she was so impatient
To remain there quiet.

Her mind became restless
And she tried to cross
The brook that didn’t
Bite her bare soft feet.

She sat o’er a stone,
Close by a small cavern,
And saw an object bright
Radiating its sharp light.

Was it a simple illusion?
Or, her own imagination?
She rubbed her eyes
Not once, but ten times.

A very young lady
Delicate and dainty,
Flesh and blood visibly,
Stood there calmly.

Fully covered by a veil
Her face did reveal,
She was above an Angel
In the looks of this girl

The fabric was so white,
And it was so transparent,
That her limbs’ every movement
Was visible, even the one slight.

Her narrow feet were bare,
With nothing else to wear,
Except for the two golden roses,
Found placed o’er her two toes.

At first, she couldn’t reckon
What did the object mean?
She felt a pang of terror,
That turned to a steady fear.

But the lady’s inviting smile,
Slowly assured the girl
That she was an object
Of worship, not fright.

Her fear she then hid
And as in church she did
By kneeling herself down
And showing the cross sign.

It didn’t even occur to her
Why the lady was there,
A rock cavern so filthy,
And the one most unhealthy.

She failed in her religious duty,
On seeing the lady’s beauty,
But the lady seemed to signal
And prompt her with a smile.

She took up her rosary,
And showed to the lady,
Who accepted readily
Her gestures found holy.

She then chanted, “Hail Mary,
Full of grace, Thy mercy,
Glory to the Father in heaven
The son, and the Holy Ghost, Amen.”