Pantoum, a folk poem Where the second and fourth lines of one verse become the first and third of the next. The poem ends with the opening line, and the third line of the first stanza becomes the second line of the last.
Sri Valli
Gypsies who travel with never a care;
A baby girl who was lost and lonely;
Always adopting the lost, the needy,
The gypsies called the baby Sri Valli.
A baby girl, who was lost and lonely
She grew up loving the Tamil language
The gypsies called the baby Sri Valli
She evolved, transcending her heritage.
She grew up loving the Tamil language
She brought in gypsy song, dance and folklore
She evolved,transcending her heritage
Seeking the essence of tamil, it’s core.
She brought in gypsy song, dance and folklore
Unfazed by those who thought of wealth as worth
Seeking the essence of Tamil, it’s core
In spite of her environment and birth.
Unfazed by those who thought of
Wealth as worth
A princess, sages, the rich and the wise,
In spite of her environment and birth,
She aspired to the highest, perfect prize.
A princess, sages, the rich and the wise,
Valli, though tested, strove to match them all
She aspired to the highest, perfect prize
Heeding only her heart’s innermost call.
Valli,though tested, strove to match them all-
(Those who’d succeeded, reached Murugan’s shrine)
Heeding only her heart’s innermost call
Finally merging with the all- divine.
Those who’d succeeded, reached Murugan’s shrine-
Who had left behind all their worldly strife
Finally merging with the all- divine–
Evolved souls who’d found their purpose in life.
Who had left behind all their worldly strife?
Always adopting the lost, the needy,
Evolved souls who’d found their purpose in life
Gypsies who travel with never a care.
gitabharath 