Poems ✍️

LAVA KUSA (UTTARAKANDA)
The two sons of Rama,
Both Lava and Kusa,
As a pleasant surprise,
Came to the sacrifice.
To sing before Rama,
The entire Ramayana,
Valmiki brought them,
Before the ascetics forum.
The elaborate sweet song,
Those two boys sang.
Rama was delighted,
When they performed.
Spellbound the audience,
By the boys' sweet voices,
There they sat speechless,
To utter even a few words.
Rama said, "Give them gold, "
But both of them told,
"We reside in the forest.
We eat roots and fruits."
"Of what use are these,
In the forest, for us?
Rama was too surprised
When they two refused.
"Who composed this poem, "
Rama then asked them.
"Sage Valmiki, " they said,
"On your deeds, he did."
"Twenty-four thousand Slokas,
With one hundred Legends,

And five hundred Cantos,
He did, with six Kandas."
"Be it so, " said Rama.
Then Kusa and Lava,
Back home, they went,
Her mother Sita to meet.
What a strange event
When a father could not
Identify his own children
Who were close to him then!