Chereads / Sundara Kānda: Hanuman's Odyssey / Chapter 36 - More of the Same

Chapter 36 - More of the Same

Went on Hanuman in same vein

So that Seetha trusts him more.

O Lord Rama's revered wife

Gave thy man this ring of his

Me to pass on to thee now.

Guessed thy man thy state of mind

Felt his ring would make thee trust

Me he sent in search of thee.

Grabbed then Seetha Rama's ring

Fondled it for ever so long

As she would her husband's hand.

Aided by that bright diamond

Face her glowed like moon in bloom.

Reminisced as she Rama's love

Turned then coyer her demeanour.

For the valour he had shown

Seetha in time praised Hanuman.

One as would a small canal

Wonder how thou crossed the sea!

It's but bravado O Hanuman

For thou came to face Ravan.

That thou enjoy my man's trust

Know thee have my trust as well.

Came it when to judging men

Know my man is none to err.

That Rama is keeping fit

Take that as my good fortune.

Having lost his loving wife

Wonder why it takes so long

For him to scorch all this earth!

Looks like I am ill-fated

That Ravan could confine me

Wife of whom all gods give way.

Hope not my loss made Rama

Lose his nerve to face Ravan.

Despair in his at my loss

Hath it made him lose focus?

Hath he in his forlorn state

Lost all interest in his mates?

Came it when to foes of his

Hath he softened in his stance?

Bid in his to rescue me

Can he count on his allies?

Doth he draw his plans with care?

And yet to make it good in life

Need as men all gods' blessings

Won't he pray for his success?

Hope not year-long separation

Made him lose his love for me.

Knew he not what hardship is

Wonder how he bears all this!

Hope they are all doing fine

Won't he get to hear from home?

Beset by grief of my absence

What if Rama got bogged down

And goes he slow on my rescue?

Dutiful sibling that he is

To join battle with Ravan

Did Bharata send his army?

Would thy good Lord Sugreeva

Force his bring to fight my cause?

Know I Lakshman on his own

Can take Ravan and his men.

Hope the day is not far off

Ravan when is felled by Ram.

Doth the heat of his passion

Stoked thus by my separation

Wont to wither his handsomeness?

Word to keep of his father

Left he crown with no regret,

With no bother in the world

Led me with him to the woods,

Now that I am not with him

Hath he lost the track of life?

Loves as he me dear than self

Loves his people nonetheless.

Having reminisced her man thus

Hoping Hanuman picks up threads

Kept then silent Rama's spouse.

Having read her mind Hanuman

Made the position clear then thus:

In the know is not thy Lord

Ravan it was who snared thee.

Report as I back to Ram

Ravan it's thee made captive

Won't he descend on Lanka

With our vanar force to boot?

To help us land in Ravan's land

Won't he with his arrows make

Bridges across sea though vast?

Were the god of death to try

Stop to Rama in his tracks

Won't he slain that god even?

Sans his consort to comfort

Stirs Ram in bed restlessly.

To espy thy man in Lanka

Takes it not long for thee now.

On my word O Rama's dear

Day that now is not far off.

Sees as Rama demeanour thine

Won't his visage turn so bright?

Touches he not drink or meat

Partakes but a meagre meal.

Fails he feel the flies on him

Lives as he lost in thy thought.

Engrossed as ever in thy thought

Thought he hath none for the rest.

Forlorn in his eyes so deep

Barring eyelids from closing

Fills thy picture to the brim.

Sees as he a flower or fruit

Wont it his to sigh for thee.

Sad though he in separation

None he slacks in preparation

To take thee back for reparation.

That her man would rescue her

Made the hapless Seetha glad,

But the plight of her beloved

Made the spouse of Rama sad.