Ram, Lakshman and Sita were now on the streets
Receiving from people sad and silent greets
Anxious and painful eyes, wet with tears
Piercing the three with pleading peers
Hoping from heart that this was a dream
Cursing life for not being a reversible stream
Angry on Kaikeyi for plotting this scheme
And pushing their Prince to this extreme
Children on the streets ceased to play
Priests in their temples ceased to pray
Men rushed to the streets leaving their jobs
Women stood by the streets with silent sobs
Customers went to shops to purchase and borrow
But came back with bags filled with sorrow
The mothers’ sorrow made their children cry
And the cowherds sorrow made their cows go dry
Ram, Lakshman and Sita walked smiling at all
Explaining to people that this was their duty’s call
Re-assuring them that they will be back in fourteen years
Trying to wipe from people, their sorrowful tears
But the grief of the people spread like fire
For they were going to miss their priceless Sapphire
They felt they were losing their very life
And they could not let go, without putting up a strife
They crowded before the three, blocking their way
And welcomed the three to their houses to stay
“Hey Ram! Please do heed to what we pray
Without You in town, our houses are just wood and clay”
“Or give us permission to come with You
Emptying the city except for a few
We will make the jungle you live into a beautiful city
And let Ayodhya ruin to a state of pity”
“We do not want to live under Kaikeyi’s rule
She who, in her husband’s distress, remains cool
She is wicked, cunning and heartlessly cruel
And her desires burn with her greed as fuel”
Lord Rama didn’t like them, criticizing his mother
He wanted them to support his beloved brother
Anyway he did know their love for him
And so did he make a speech that was short and trim
“My dear people, please do understand
That Bharatha is of the noblest brand
He will protect you, like his organs of sight
And rule like the sun that shines so bright
He has no part in me being exiled
I do not want his name being defiled
Please do accept him as your beloved king
And always his praise, your lips must sing
Your talk about my mother makes me sad
From the day I were a child, she has never been bad
I lived more with her than my own mother
And she has always held me above, Bharatha, my brother
Now fate has used her as a pawn
This puzzle would solve when time is dawn
Now is a time, difficult for all of us
We must handle this without creating fuss
As your leader I entreat you to stay
And take up the roles you usually play
Wait for me, for I will be back
Now let me pursue my duty’s track”
Saying thus Lord Rama tried to proceed further
But the determination of the crowd would not wither
They kept following Him, right behind
For their love for Him had made them blind
They were ready to give up all their wealth
And follow their Ram to the ends of the earth
Such was the love, people had for Ram
Jai Shri Ram! Jai Jai Shri Ram!!
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