Azhaki [the Beautiful], A Movie Poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

I heard that she was ill fated
To be knotted to a drunkard,
Who, being poor, stripped her of charm.
I was helpless to lend my arm.
I was strained.

I helped her husband earn
And send her money to keep her.
Not to last, he left once for all.
She’s left to earn as coolly.
I was pained.

I brought her to be a housemaid
To give her a safe livelihood.
The humility that she had
For her and the son made me soar.
I was wounded.

I brought her to help our household.
My wife’s innocence was her hold.
There, too, happiness short-lived
As our past story unfolded.
I was shattered.

Next day, once for all she had left.
Her son’s study was lost. I’m lost.
I wandered as a vagabond
In search of her without any end.
I was ripped.

The script that she left when she left
Cleared the dust of my wife’s eyes
And made her repent her ill doubt
About her modesty and the loss.
I was mutilated.

I found her son in an orphanage.
Now he lives with us in prestige.
I love him more than I love my child.
It is a tribute I give her.
I am soothed.

One loses one’s peace,
When one finds her ex-lover
In ill fated condition,
And does all to her,
To redeem her,
That he would not have done
That much
Had he made her as his wife.
31.05.2002, Pakd