Jayalalitha Amma's Last Journey. Poem by Bernedita Rosinha Pinto

God whispered in her little ears
'Go my child and embrace the world''
she leaped up her little feet with a shrill
and on to this world she stepped out to thrill.
God said to her again
''would you like to dance, sing and entertain? ''
''yes and no'' she said for a while
then with steady pace she mounted high
to fame vide films where fortune hides
and for years ten she acted and sang
until at another time, a whisper much louder
into her ears asked ''will you tend to people
and engage yourself in public duty? ''
''with all my heart'' she replied
''though I am not sure what and how,
but if it is Thy will, O' God
and if it is pre-written I must do this task,
I will be that chosen one
and convince people to elect me
so that I can lead them away
from hunger and discontentment''.
When in her palms descended victory
a leader more than once she became
through those years of her life;
loved by millions of people,
as she dealt with them
with grace and understanding;
she provided the poor
with the things they needed,
she made medicines available
at subsidized prices and even health insurance
to benefit everyone and anyone
to promote good health and living.
she provided food and shelter
as she never wanted anyone to starve ever
that was her aim and glory;
at every street, every corner
was a place called Amma's canteen
where subsidized meals and snacks
were offered at nominal rates;
to orphaned children she showed empathy,
everything they needed
she gave them free
even to the homeless and needy
rice bags for free
and even cattles for rearing;
how much this made the people
content and happy;
she never stopped to give
when someone asked,
she never stopped the help
when someone needed it most;
She gave them everything
whatever in her heart she concealed,
in return a reverence to her they bore,
and as they called her mother - Amma
in her heart she felt a sense of pride
a sense of moral achievement.
And as she was getting tired
God stood there and asked
''are you ready to come back to me, my child
''yes and no'' she said
so another seventy five days
God let her live and breathe;
and finally when it was her time
to depart to her eternal abode of rest
God said aloud - ''I am waiting, my child
to embrace you and I have kept
the gates of heaven open so wide
but now I am myself in tears to see
so many many people down there on earth
crying for you like little lost children;
and as they keep calling out to you
Mother - Amma, Amma''.
my eyes fill with dis-belief,
how could you be so lovable to them
as so many pairs of eyes so full of tears
so many hearts so full of pain and sorrow
that even if a God had to die
would so many people grieve together
as much as they now grieve for you?