M.S. - A Tribute To. Poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

You were born; one such as was not
born before;
One such perhaps as will never be born
after.

You had got a voice; one such as was
not there before;
Nor would be such a mellifluous as
yours in future.

You had, as it was, the tone of
Nightingale crooning up;
You had, as it was, the flame of fame
burning up.

Without pride you walked, as it were
walking with pride;
Without envy you moved, as it were
moving with envy
.
You had been like a swan ambling
Towards the bank;
You died; ‘I am too old to attend’.
Your sibling has said.
Are there any instinctual affection,
Any emotional satisfaction,
Or any soul gratification for one
To die cut off from blood relations?
19.12.2004

[M. Subbulakshmi was a leading south Indian classical singer]