26 MAY 1928, Page 11

Poetry

The Old Devadasi

JAGGANATII Swami, Greatest God of all, Hear me, Thy servant, Hear my piteous call ; See now these pleading Hands I hold on high, Jagganath Swami,

Jagganath kijail

I came, a maiden, To Thy holy shrine, I, the unwanted, Dedicated Thine By she who bore me, Harlot, even as I. Jagganath Swami, Jagganath hi jai Faithful I served Thee Through the days and nights, I sang Thy strange songs Gave of my delights, - Danced to Thy glory Till dawn broke the sky, Jagganath Swami, Jagganath Id jai Haggard and useless, So Thy priests decreed, I roam the foul streets Beggared in my need.

Jagganath Swami, Hear the piteous cry Of this Thy servant.

Jagganath Id jai I A. R. U.