Here lies unknown Lechchumi
Under the Tea Bushes, green and shady
From where she came and where she
went
None cared to know how her life was
spent.
Rise to the beat of Tom Toms in misty
morn
Wrapped in a ‘ Kambili ’ to keep her
warm
To the ‘ Perettu ‘ she walks to earn
her wage
Sun or rain, to her is the same.
Up the hills and down the dales
Every Tea Bush she touches with eager
face
Her fingers go clip clap plucking the
leaves
When the basket is full, in smiles
she beams.
The shouts of ‘SInna Durai’ ‘Kangani’
Kanakapullay’
She is accustomed to that endless
symphony
She bears all these for the love of
her brood
The naked children await her return
with eager looks
When day’s work is done, she hastily
walks
To her ‘Line Room ‘ for her household
chores
Lovingly she pats her dog, cat and
hens that lay
The only leisure and pleasure she
gets for the day.
Sitting, Dining, Bedroom all in one,
except the ‘Lat’
The floor is swept to spread her mat
A tin contains her savings of rupees
and cents
The world revolves in this room ‘ Ten
by Ten ‘
Ebony coloured skin, tanned in sun
and rain
Her lips are red with betel stains
Hair parted with ‘Pottu’ on her
radiant face
She looks a beauty on a ‘Thai Pongal’ day.
Huddled in this room she goes to
sleep
With her brood and pets around her
feet
Thus, ends the day with no regrets
With daily duty duly done to her
ability best.
Far away from her homeland now she
rests,
After her blood, tears and sweat she
had shed
Offering her bones and flesh to
nourish her, alien soil
For prosperity and peace of this
beautiful Isle.
Her blood runs in our country’s veins
And her toils were for our national
gains
Future generations could live without
need
For she had left a fortune in a ‘CUP
OF TEA ‘
Let not racists speak and look with
scorn
As one to the world, lowly born
She has played her part with a
struggled life
Let us be grateful and not unkind.
When she is judged on the Judgement Day
She would head the list for
sacrifices made
For her merits are boundless and sins
are less
Her place in Heaven is assured, with
eternal bliss.
G.A.D.Sirimal.
