A31 Grotto Opened To Public Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

The Church still held the view
That any miracle, old or new,
Could not spiritually be accepted,
If science could have it proved.

The State also had its rule
And used it as a tool,
Any uprising, to suppress
In the name of peace process.

In between these two powers,
The belief on those miracles
Grew strong in the minds
Of the people of Lourdes.

“This’ll go on, how far?
No end to this cold war?
The Lady only can do it,
As she only started it.”

People thought like this.
Poor ladies were restless.
The Lady had another plan,
That came up for execution.

Napoleon III, the Emperor
Was, in fact, responsible for
Any decision in the interest,
Of the Church or the State.

His two year old son,
Loulou fell sick then.
He didn’t open his eyes
For the past two days.

The worried Empress spent,
That whole sleepless night,
And sat by his bed side,
To attend, when he cried.

Still the fever was on.
It wasn’t going down.
She had the miracle water,
That could make him better.

But the Emperor refused.
On principles, he stood.
It was banned for others.
How could she then use?

She was bent upon
Treating her ailing son
With the miracle water,
To bring down the fever.

She gave the water.
There was no fever.
By the next hour,
The crisis was o’er.

She told the Emperor,
That the miracle water,
Indeed, killed the fever,
Within the next one hour.

To throw the spring open,
By removing the ban,
She compelled the Emperor,
To issue an Imperial Order.

His telegram read, “By order,
Granted access to spring water.
To Public, throw Grotto open.”
Signed, Emperor, Napoleon.

She profusely thanked him
For his urgent telegram.
He said, “Thank the Lady.
Upon her mercy you rely.”