India, June 14 -- The colour of my blood was never red You chose to jump in Red sari and all and it turned this hue There was all that heavenly gunk on You

Which naturally got washed off Into my blood stream Which imperfect human beings In their urge to label everything neatly call cancer.

My black love Only I know the ecstasy of You bathing within me.

Lakshmi Bayi

Thiruvathira Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi was born the XII Princess of the erstwhile royal family of Travancore.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from The Sunday Guardian....