RAVANA

V. RAMA MURTHY

I am Ravana

The much maligned villain

Of the epic poets who

Fed the credulous masses

With false dreams and feeble visions.

I wanted to wreak my vengeance

On Rama who hurt my sister

When she fell in love with him.

His brother Laxmana

Defaced her face

In wanton arrogance

Wasn’t he a Rakshasa?

Which brother would stand this insult?

So I went to kill Sita

To avenge my sister

But, alas, I fell in love with her beauty

I carried her away to my citadel

Like a conqueror, like a hero.

I could have forced her to submit

But I didn’t want her that way

I wanted to win her love first

And then her beauty and so waited.

But the enemy came too soon

Before she could change her mind;

And my brother, a traitor,

betrayed me by joining hands with Rama.

I lost the battle

But I lost it well

Because I lost it for love.

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