Death Is Certain However One Is Clever! Poem by Dr.V.K. Kanniappan

That day..
One person known as Amaran
was sitting frozen with shock in!

The dream, he had that night, was like that!
The death is certain for him on that day, set
as per his dream!

Pampered daughter's marriage
The higher education for the dear son
duties pile up one by one in his thoughts..!

Hence, this day, with firm mind to be poise,
Wherever, if anything happens, he wants to play safe,
He approached the door step of his house with caution!

There, a new man,
who was not much acquainted to Amaran,
was waiting in the door step anxiously;

He introduced himself
As ‘He is Yama', God of Death
And chieftain of righteousness!

The fear of death climbed up
and sat on the head of Amaran!
He covered his face with smile…

Of what is running in his mind,
asked him without panic
the reason for his coming.

He said, ‘My target for this year
is to take 200 and forty lives,
Your name stands first!

Yamadharma stands calling Amaran;

Your earthly life is over, You get
ready with me to the world of sky!

Amaran said with cheers
that he will come along with Yama
without hesitation!

He said to Yama, "I have a request to you;
You would have tired traveling long distance,
So, you have some buttermilk and relax a little"

Amaran bowed and prayed,
Yama also got little pity over him
By wondering his virtuous thought!

Yama drank the buttermilk given by Amaran,
He just slept there with tiredness and snore!
Waiting for the timely opportunity,

Amaran pulled out the death name list,
From Yama's waist,
Wrote his name in the last;

Counting in his mind that his son's education,
Daughter's marriage and duties to the family
Will be over when the Yama comes to him last!

When the Yama woke up after a long sleep,
He noticed Amaran standing by his side calmly
blowing the cool air with fan made of the white tail-hairs!

Yama got -‘kick'- euphoria
By seeing the kindness of Amaran;
Yama wanted to help Amaran in turn, and said,

"O' man! I am happy with your kindness;
I can't change my decision, but I can do a favor,
I start the list from below for your sake! "

Saying thanks to Amaran, Yama took the list,
Amaran's name was first from the last! Amaran's days
has come to an end earlier on the same day! Alas!

Ref: A Tamil poem 'மாற்றத்தின் பரிசு மரணம்! ' by Poet. வை.அமுதா