WORLD OF WOES

He was monarch

of all that he surveyed

but now that his life

has become extinct,

he is lowered and rolled

ungently

on the logs

of the pyre

made up of even

some half-burnt faggots;

and he is stripped

of the shroud also.

Having witnessed

this poignant scene,

tell me truly,

O heart of mine,

would you make bold

to accord consent

to be born again

in this world of woes?

[Tamil poem by PATTINATHAR (10^th century A.D) rendered into English by Sage TGN]