Classic Poem

Purananuru 74

If a child of my clan should die,
if it is born dead,
a mere gob of flesh
not yet human,

they will put it to the sword,
to give the thing
a warrior's death.

Will such kings
bring a son into this world
to be kept now
like a dog at the end of a chain,

who must beg,
because of a fire in the belly,
for a drop of water,

and lap up a beggar's drink
brought by jailers,
friends who are not friends?