I Met Sugandha Poem by Indira Renganathan

As I wander leisurely here and there
Sometimes I exceed and go more
One such instance I met her there
Just as a somebody to me

Bright like mid-day sun she was white
But cool like a silvery moon
There in a bush subdued amid leaves
Like a piece of flowery cloud

My inquisitive nose got stretched to her
For I felt leered at then
It was her silent splash of scent
Unsurpassably perfuming cordially inviting to her

Unusually for the first time I felt
The invisible Supreme touching my soul
I guessed her name must be weird
A name that belongs to heaven

Unthinkably an angel highly fragrant and divine
Perfectly shaped of a glossy green
A spirit of providence descended it seemed
I wanted to know her name

I enquired here and there and all
None seemed to know except one
A lady from kerala told me 'Sugandharajan'
Funny it sounded and I retorted

'No, no, must be Sugandha' I said
But that lady stressed on Sugandharajan
How can a flower have male's name
Confused I stressed again on 'Sugandha'

That lady Wouldn't agree.I should but
I turned to the flower now
She(he?) had gone yellow looking fatigued
Still scenting on a thoughtful fading

May be a Gandharva from the skies
Waiting on earth for his princess?
Might possibly be drawn to his fragrance
That she falls for his love?

(Sugandharajan: Gardenia, Cape jasmine)