Let our sorrows be pierced by HIS spear
Allowing our spirits to uplift;
May our pain and anguish disappear
Like that deer ever so swift.

Like the scent of many a scattered petal 
May the aroma of joy permeate around;
Let goodness in grandeur spread and settle 
Like that banyan firmly rooted to the ground.

As a beautiful drawing will inspire and nourish
So may our world be blessed and flourish,
May the music of poetry bloom and blush
Ringing the New Year in a spirit of lush.

Rajeshwari Iyer

The above poem is a modified translation  of the following original
Tamil verse  by 'veNbA virumbi'.

(Tamil version of the poem)

viya ANdu vishEsham Eviya ambAy idargaL maRainthidath thAviya mAnenath thAkkaL paRanthidath thUviya pUvAych sugangaL malinthidap pAviya Alenap paNbu paravida mEviya vaNNamAy meyyaruL kUdida Oviya menRem ulagu siRanthidak kAviya gIthak kalaiyudan Onguga mAviya ANdil vaLam. thA=varuththam mEviya=virumbiya Oviya menRem=Oviyam eNru em

-veNbA virumbi

Rajeshwari Iyer lives in Brampton, Ontario and teaches Chemistry at the College/University level in Toronto. She is the mother of a special needs child and enjoys reading, music and travel. She has contributed poems to SAWF (South Asian Women's Forum), Magazines such as KALA, Marina, quarterly publications based in Toronto. She has also contributed to e-zines such as Poetry.com, Thinnai, and Tamilonline.