Tail on Fire

Sibling as his stood so firm

Spoke then Ravan changing tune.

Spare as we may life of him

Let him not go scot-free now.

Pride as vanars at their tails

Set his tail on fire that hurts.

Goes as he back with burnt tail

Makes a scene to folk back home.

Burns as his tail like a log

Take this vanar round boulevards.

Having led him out of court

Set the palace guards all there

Rags to tie on Hanuman's tail.

Worked as guards on tail his long

Turned it Hanuman like tree trunk.

Pouring oil then on rags

Set they tail of his on fire.

Gathered in time Lankans all

To see Hanuman's tail on fire.

Though he could have freed himself

Bore that Hanuman thus in thought.

Escape that I this ordeal

It's not for me such big deal.

Isn't it the trouble they give

Fraction of the hurt I caused?

Can't I on my own tackle

All these Ravan's men at arms?

Bear I should well this ordeal

For the sake of my Lord Ram.

Roamed I though the town at night

Failed I would have to grasp well

The ins and outs of its layout.

Now that they would take me round

Through their streets in broad daylight

Chance I would have to assess

Strengths and weakness of the foe.

Falling as well in his trap

Led him Ravan's men in chains

Through the streets of Lanka then.

Gloating over their success

Made they Hanuman their trophy.

Unmindful of burning tail

Scanned all Hanuman as he moved.

Saw he dumps of ammos large

Found he bunkers there well manned.

Buildings he found camouflaged

Tunnels which had underground.

As they taunted him a spy

Smiled to himself then Hanuman.

So to see his tail on fire

Came out Lankans then in droves.

Carried some then to Seetha

Tale of vanar's burning tail.

For so long all in undertones

He's the one with whom thee spake.

Hurt was Seetha by that news

Prayed she Agni to spare him.

Submit she did to Fire God

That he might save Hanuman then.

Deem if thou me true to Ram

Spare then Hanuman from thy heat.

Goodwill of gods if I earned

For my goodness to mankind

Be kind now to this Hanuman.

If Ram feels that I do yearn

For the embrace of his warmth

Pray go cool on Hanuman now.

Feel if thee that Lord Sugreev

Could help Rama take me out

From the darkness of Lanka

Pray thee comfort give Hanuman.

Lost no time then God of Fire

From his heat to spare Hanuman.

Blew then Vayu his father

Icy breeze to cool Hanuman.

Wondered Hanuman how it was

Rags though on his tail on fire

Yet he felt no heat as such.

Tail as mine as thus burning

None I feel the pain for that!

For the soothing feel I have

Lay the reason somewhere else.

For the sake of Rama's cause

Didn't Mainaka offer seat

For me to rest on his peak?

Likewise Agni should've thought

Fits it Rama's cause like glove

Were he to leave me unscathed.

Might I as well owe all this

To the kindness of Lord Rama

And his faithful spouse Seetha.

Or else Agni being friend

Of my father Vayu wind

Would have spared me this ordeal.

Knowing am on Ram's errand

Gave as affront folks all these

So to keep up his prestige

And to make them well realize

That they played all but with fire

Won't I pay them in same coin?

Houdini made as he then

Went he roaring up in skies.

With his burning tail and all

Landed then on Lankan gates.

Assumed simian form Hanuman

Slipped he through the chains on him.

Grew he then back into giant

Looked he all the while for mace.

Picked he latch of that huge gate

Slew he all the guards he faced.

Having none to restrain him

With his burning tail Hanuman

Shone he like the mid-day sun.