Light As Many As You Can. Poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

I love you
for a long time.
You don’t know
how long I love.
you don’t know
how best I love
or for that
whether I love at all. (I love)

You may love
or may not.
If you love
I can outlive.
If not so
I will short live.
Can you lift
your veil to see? (You may)

Be a flame
of a candle.
You can spark
many candles.
You won’t die
by doing so.
Again and again,
Love can ignite love. (Be a flame)

I love you
for a long time.
Be a flame
to light my wick
in addition
to your own.
The more you are
illuminated,
The more you illuminate. (I love)
29.05.2001, Berhampur