BY ANDAN KAVIRAYAN

(Rendered from Tamil by P. N. Appuswami)

In the roar of the lion ravening for prey, sweet music can be heard;

And in his fierce look mercy seen.

But in the tyranny of the traitor, what comfort can we find?

For he has taken the bread from our mouths and left us starving to count the stars in the sky.

Food to eat and clothes to wear, we gave him.

His battles we won for him, shedding our blood.

King over countless lands we made him, and crowned him with a crown imperial.

Many hard feats we wrought in his service, spreading his fame for him;

Till at last our grateful Master has turned a poison-toothed serpent to us!

He who came to us a famisht beggar, he crushes us now with oppression.

The slave who whined and whimpered to us, he scoffs at us, scorns us, and spurns us like dogs.

The fugitive we sheltered in our midst, he tramples now on our heads.

Are we to fear and tremble, and timidly crouch in a corner?

No, no, my brothers. Arise! Let us arise in the might of our valour!

[Translator's Note: ‘Andan Kavirayan’ is the pseudonym of a living poet, who is now playing truant in the fields of Archaeology. Let us hope he will soon return to his first love and please the many admirers of his poetry.]

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