Thank you all
thank youIt is rare to have
Everyone I know
be present
when Mother Earth claims
me
Thank you, my father Janaka
For taking me from the
Earth
Making me your daughter
and the princess of Mithila
Unconditionally
Thank you Shiva,
for protecting me
with your bow
Thrayambakam
Guarding me from
Greedy men
Who wanted me
for my royal connections
Thank you Ma Kaikeyi
I know how much you loved
Rama
although your ambition for
your son
was greater
That is
something forgivable
in every mother
I still remember
Only you cared
To write Swarna Mahal
In my name
Giving me my space
In my husband’s kingdom
Thank you Lakshmana
You were more my blood
Than just a brother-in-law
While always doing your
duty
to your brother
Thank you Hanuman
Rama is your first love
Your loyalty to him
unquestioned
I see a film of tears
In your eyes
as I bid goodbye
Thank you people of Ayodhya
For loving me, hating me
Be kinder to my children
Than you were to me
Thank you, my darling sons
I told you to respect him
as your king
Even while I hid
his paternity from you
Thank you gentle sage
And peaceful ashram
which was my haven
Which was
my heaven with my children
Now with the Sun
Of the Surya Suryavanshi
clan
As witness
I entreat you
My Amma, Mother Earth
Wife of Vishnu
Take me back into you
from Rama whom I adore
That great war
you foughtwith Ravana
All for my sake
Garuda,
Eagle of Shri Maha Vishnu
Helped out my husband
And even bowed to him.
Rama is king
I have given
heirs for the throne of Ayodhya
I shall sink gratefully
Like a tired child offered a
lap
and a lullaby as well
On to my Mother
this kind Earth
Who accepts all.
And
my name will live on
—Lakshmi Bayi
Thiruvathira Thirunal Lakshmi
Bayi was born the XII Princess
of the erstwhile Royal Family of
Travancore
