Farewell to the Queen Mother
--RAMA—
Oh, brutal change from Heir
Apparent to what?
Who am I now, not prince, nor King-to-be,
A son only, a brother, a husband and lover
Bound to break all hearts with these good-byes.
How will Queen and Mother Kausalya bear
This switch?
Shall I console? How, for the loss of an only
Child, does one console a mother?
Premeditation mocks me.
God be in my heart
And show what words to say.
(RAMA approaches, fully prostrating himself by
reclining face down on the floor and touching his mother's feet with both his outstretched
hands.)
--QUEEN
KAUSALYA—
(She picks up a flower garland and puts it around Rama's neck when he stands up, as she says--)
Oh Rama, dear
son Rama, this night I prayed
Throughout that guidance and treasured kingly strengths
Be at you disposal for your reign.
--RAMA—
(Removing the garland and holding it: )
Mother, sweetest mother, who nourished me
With truth, for truth, it is not to be.
My regal robe becomes a hermit's wrap
(His mother shakes her head to deny what she hears.)
Mother Kaikeyi the Queen defined the object
Of my father's battlefield promises to be
My banishment and Bharat's coronation.
--QU. KAUSALYA—
No!
--RAMA—
(He takes the garland and puts it around his mother's
neck.)
My mother, I must swiftly say farewell and to
The worthy give my wealth and go today.
To whom shall the cattle go? To whom, the jewels?
To whom, the silks? Your help in properly...
--QU.KAUSALYA—
(Pulling the garland from her neck as if it were
choking her: )
No, no, no!
(Removes the garland and hugs RAMA)
My son! My baby! Oh that I had never
Borne a child rather than live to see
The day my precious is sent from me. No!
I'll not assign a single bull of yours
Or mine goes too. Oh Rama, precious Prince,
You're my only asset. If you go,
I must come with you. I cannot stay.
--RAMA—
(Holding his mother at arm's length.)
No, mother, you cannot come with me.
You have not seen my father the king. This thing
Has broken him. He could not speak to me.
Nor did he look at me. His heart is broken.
--QU. KAUSALYA—
He would not even speak the
words to you?
How can you permit this rival of mine to
Pervert the natural course of things, to steal
A kingdom for her son, to take a son,
Husband and king, to retire him in his youth
Before his rule could even shine? Never
Can I forgive that fool or Her Treacherous
Majesty. She took power
From the king without a right!
--RAMA—
No, mother. The King
had given his word.
When she saved him as he lay unconscious,
Stunned from a battlefield blow long years ago,
But, til now, she had not told her wants.
Do not be like apple eaten by worms,
The worms of bitterness. Bless me, mother,
And stand with me for what is right, supporting
A rule of honesty and principle.
(RAMA takes the garland from his mother's hand and
tenderly places it around his mother's neck, saying)
The word
"farewell" cannot be said to mothers
Whose bodies gave us bodies for this life.
Permission is requested to depart
Keeping the promise of the King, my father.
--QU. KAUSALYA—
(Tenderly touching his face: )
Righteousness and justice were your milk.
Though you must leave without a crown or scepter,
Kingship is a part of every cell.
A parent cannot grant a blessing for it
To go. So go, my son, with my blessing.
Though I stand by as you distribute all,
Do not be fooled that bitterness does not
Consume or anger burn, but know, my son,
Not just your father's heart's broken but mine
Is broken as if I am a barren woman,
Widowed and abandoned by every fortune's grace.
(RAMA
prostrates to his mother, holds her feet for several moments, rises and walks away.
A spotlight follow him.)
Copyright 2000, Aikya Param.
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