My King! I propose a deal with you
COMPATIBLE
with my Membership
of our country I hold so dear
which you do not wish to deny.
My King! Here is your part:
Abolish anything and everything
INCOMPATIBLE
with our heritage and culture
with unwritten rules of our value system
with diktats of our many Gods.
My King! Ban them mini-skirts
for exposed knees are not only
INCOMPATIBLE
with our Ways and Norms, but
cause road accidents too.
Sigiriya damsels, hence My King,
don’t show their knees, you see.
My King! While you are at it
I suggest a list of things to ban; All
INCOMPATIBLE
with our Ways and Norms, and
cause my stomach to turn too.
political promises un-kept,
cash transfers in brown envelopes,
beating suspects on arrest,
locking up for weeks, months and years,
attaching bodies to tree,
decoupling souls to go free,
Ban ‘em all, My King!, ban ‘em all.
Gracious King! Here is my part:
I will sing our Anthem
the melody of which I adore
the lyrics I now have learnt by heart,
COMPATIBLE with my knowledge
of the beauty of our gorgeous Land,
Of knowledge and truth
of strength and faith,
Of the variety of nourishing grain, and
of fruit and veg too.
Noble King! I offer to sing aloud
Ananda’s original ONLY in Sinhala
once a year from the top of Sigiriya,
once a month at University Senate,
once a week before my game of chess and
once a day alone in my shower.
My King! Please make this deal with me
COMPATIBLE
with my Membership
of our country I hold so dear
which you do not wish to deny.