THOUSAND LIES FOR A GOOD.

The limit of lies, for a marriage, in the east,

Just a thousand, that is the least,

So many-a-wed-lock ends in trouble,

Once a lie is pricked like a bubble.

Beautiful was the bride, adorned with gold,

But the lame bridegroom, never was told,

That she too was a handicapped lady,

With left arm, disproportionate to her body.

Ushered into their first-night-chamber,

He couldn’t suppress his guilt from her.

She hid hers, in fear, under her veil,

To let him think, it was so real.

Suddenly a burst of laughter shook them both,

As time ran out to tell the truth.

The girl waved her short hand first,

The boy ten revealed his leg-with-twist.

Pity, their elders suppressed the fact,

Not that, the couple be cheated in their act.

Their shortfall held them close, despite lies,

That would have, otherwise, broken their ties.

~Rajaram Ramachandran~