The Legend of Mahsuri: A Poem

This poem was inspired by my friend RestlessButterfly's entry Hunting Eagle (Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010):

http://restlessbutterfly.xanga.com/722891086/hunting-eagle/




The Legend of Mahsuri: A Poem
by Christopher Dracul Van Helsing



The isles of Langkawi glisten in the sea
isles of great beauty
known to me and thee.

Where the Straits of Malacca meet the Andaman Seas
lie these enchanted isles with warm tropical breeze
here the eagles take flight
but their load is not light
for they carry large manganese stone
see the startled dog drop his bone.


From whence did these manganese stones arrive?
A meteor sent from gods from the skies?
or a volcano sending forth its spew
from gods below the earth saying
we need worship too.


It was the days of the great Sultanates
as fishermen cast their sea-cucumber nets
that the woman called Mahsuri was the jewel of the isles
no one fairer than she with the most radiant of smiles.
Her husband was Wan Darus a warrior brave
she feared his going to war would lead to his grave.

He told her, "I must leave, dear, but I shall return
before the days when noon-day sun starts to burn."
So away to war he went
with her kisses on his lips
that were heaven sent.


She befriended a man called Deraman
their friendship was no sin
but the isles' ugly hags
their tongues wagged
and with tongues more venomous than those of snakes
their lurid lies gave people the shakes
much like modern radical feminists
whose faces many mirrors often breaks.


Their voices shrieked "Adultery! "Adultery!"
Their gnarled fingers pointed at Mahsuri.
And so Mahsuri was tied to a tree
to face the ultimate penalty.
They stabbed her and stabbed her with swords and knives
one witchy hag so exasperated, she broke into hives.
For Mahsuri lived and lived
despite repeated stabs and cries so livid.

Finally Mahsuri said, "Use my family's dagger"
and one self-righteous prick did swagger
he grabbed the blade
and without Heaven's aid
thrust it thus into this maiden most fair
a bird's screech pierced the air
and white blood flowed
a token to be told
of her innocence most rare.

Birds flew to cover Mahsuri's body
the hags went back to their Devil-goddy
and Mahsuri cursed Langkawi for generations seven
that time is now past
and the isles are now a tourist shopper's heaven.


-A poem written by Dracul Van Helsing
Wednesday, March 3rd 2010