Spgm 055 - To Go By The Royal Path Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

The gifts of Bullock cart,
The stone studded cot,
And the beautiful palanquin,
By the king they were given.

The newly married couples,
Well received these articles,
Besides a sword with sharp edge,
On the eve of their marriage,

The servant maids gave them,
In golden cups to the brim,
Fresh country made liquor,
That pushed them to the floor.

The speckled humming bees,
Not only went around the trees,
But also hovering o'er garlands
And flowers in the girls' hands.

A girl drove the bees out,
When they tried to sit,
O'er her here and there,
Shouting at them in fear.

The tender lips of the girl,
Like a red flower o'er a pearl,
They looked so for a while.
When she threw a smile.

To her lover's near advances,
She gave him no chances.
Her hot speech hurt him much,
As he bore not her words such.

Sometime he felt her joking,
Or, she was just mocking,
To him her two curved eye brows
They looked like two bent arrows.

Her two red eyes was similar
To that of red fish so popular.
Little drops of sweat flowed
On her face and forehead.

Kovalan saw those traders,
And the king's courtiers,
Happy with their lovebirds,
In the sex sellers' wards.

THE STREET OF ARTISTS

Many stage artists were found
Living in thatched roofs around,
Like brick houses they appeared not,
Still, by a king they were sought.

Specialized in classical dances
And many other folk dances,
They gave performances so perfect,
What the people there did expect.

To the exact tunes and music,
Marched their footsteps basic,
They were seen in Madurai City
Attracting every street passerby.

In their visual traps and nets,
Youngsters many fell like pets,
Even the best hunted these players,
Like honeybees ran after flowers.

The sexy men every day
They fell in their love play
This kind of streets many
Kovalan saw on his way.

THE STREETS WITH SHOPS

Kovalan saw many busy streets,
Crowded with Bullock carts,
Also luxurious closed carts
And goods dumped in lots.

The chariots' fancy handles,
The protective body shields,
All sorts of war-weapon
They were for sale in open.

The leather made hand drum,
Waist belts, hand stick like some,
Hand-bristle fans, pig faced talisman,
Plenty in the market they were seen.

Pearl studded spear stick,
Pictures more of artistic,
Copper and bronze material,
All were kept there for sale.

All handicrafts coir made,
Garlands made of fine beads,
Cutting knives and sharp axes,
They were available in all sizes.

There were ivory art pieces,
Different flavor incenses,
And colorful decorative pastes
For buyers' choice and tastes.