Gain And Loss Poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
Gain And Loss
I bought an idol made of ivory.
All said it was good; it got its glory.
Who must I be grateful to:
The seller, the maker,
The smuggler, the very tusk
Or the elephant slaughtered?
Is such gain worthy?
I lost the idol made of ivory.
A treasure was it; I got fury.
Who must I blame for the loss:
The inmates, the servants,
The thief, his need and creed
Or the society that valued it?
Is such loss a pity?
Credits and blames on tracing
Would fizzle out to naught.
03.07.2006
Who takes the credit or the responsibility for the gain and/or the loss....well scripted in this poem...Very good write Shan.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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8/29/2026 1:09:45 AM # rel_20260827T145718Z_a0f1bd3
Brilliant write...the metaphor of the idol can be applied to so much in our lives! Thanks, roshni.