Confessions Of Urmila 08 - A Bow Broken Poem by Unnikrishnan Sivasankara Menon

The thozhis began to tell us gasping
how Ram lifted the bow with such ease
that the entire Rajasabha fell silent,
As he bent it to fasten the string, it fell in pieces.

So, it was the sound of the bow
breaking in pieces, not a thunder!

So, Ram has not shot an arrow from the bow;
has he won the contest or lost?
The Rajasabha decided he won
Who are you to question?

Within no time, they dressed us in our best;
to our eyes from behind the veils of tears
the princes shone like suns in a cloudless dawn
though I could not tell one from the other.

As if she read my mind, my thozhi said
"the dark one in blue robes is Ram,
does he not look like Lord Vishnu? "
"I have not seen Lord Vishnu" I answered.

I was so lost in his handsome glowing face
that I failed to notice a pair of sharp eyes
that chased me until thozhi led me thither:
the eyes of Prince Lakshman!

Our eyes met for a moment
and I realised this was my destiny;
his august countenance, firm manners
and charming smile disarmed me!

I knew Kandarpa's arrows have
successfully landed in our hearts!
I forgot my resolve conveniently.