On Langkawi's shore there is a tomb,
A hidden tale lies in it's gloom,
Of a love so unjustly spurned,
And a curse that maimed and burned.

In the time of war and blood,
The Siamese hit the Malayans hard,
On an island far from strife,
Gentle Mahsuri was made a wife.

As morning woke the sleeping land,
Mahsuri's beloved left the isle of sand,
As tears befell the reluctant hearts,
Both nod as war force them apart.

"May your spear forever fly,
Till the Siamese blood runs dry,
Do not doubt for a moment within,
For my love to you have always been."

Thus left the boats to war torn shores,
As Mahsuri recites the ancient lores,
A few days of passion now ends unbidden,
For fate has made a cruel decision.

So returned did she to daily chores,
To teach the people both rede and law,
To help the needy so they be seen,
To succor the weak to health they been.

"Gentle Mahsuri," the people say,
"Relieves despair like a shining ray,
For others pain she will not forsake,
And only gives but never take."

Her gentle ways hurt the pride of one,
Wan Aishah the village pun,
For though she be the chieftain's spouse,
Only Mahsuri made the islanders rouse.

Many weeks she plotted hard,
Finding faults or reputation marred,
But fruitless was her evil chore,
For Mahsuri was virtue to the core.

Than came the minstrel Deraman,
From the shores of the rising sun,
Skill in words gifted in arts,
He made the island roar and laugh!!

This man Mahsuri made welcome,
To teach his arts to more than some,
Hand in hand they awakened the masses,
Two minds divine wisdom has hastened.

But the deviants will always find fault,
For they can turn what is good into rot,
Soon blatant lies and rumors flew,
Which puts Mahsuri in a light so cruel.

"Deraman, ignore those words untrue,
For we know the truth as the sky is blue,
Only Heaven's will is all that matter,
Let us continue making people better."

But Wan Aishah now used the fib,
To rock the hands of her husband's crib,
"Bring the adulteress and liar to justice,
Recall her husband to deliver the peace."

The chieftain spurred by his conniving mate,
Called for Mahsuri and Deraman be laid,
On the planks of execution so all can see,
Mahsuri's beloved witness the lie that be.

But a knowing guard warned them both,
Of the injustice that he thus loath,
"Flee the island for all our sake,
Before caprice drives you to the stake."

Deraman begged Mahsuri to leave,
Who deign to stay without reprieve,
"Not for you alone Deraman the wise,
For I cannot bear my husband to be reprised."

So sobbed did he even at the Eastern shore,
For he knew the fate of one accused as a whore,
Under the moonless night he thus cried,
"Allah, protect Mahsuri with all your might!!"

Mahsuri reached the chieftain's ground,
There she walked one round,
"I have heard your accusation,
Now let me ease your confusion!!"

From the house her beloved emerged,
In his eyes all love dispersed,
"No argument will I hear from you,
Wan Aishah?s words I know stand true."

From her eyes only tears flowed,
"Husband, were Sol to turn cold,
Were Hell to swallow you whole,
I love you even you be my foe."

But Wan Aishah in spite did said,
"Hear the lie so craftily made,
Even now she fails to confess,
Oh, be chastise by eternal rest."

All her pleas of innocence,
Provided no berth nor providence,
Bound to a stake made with hate,
The men sharpened the blades of fate.

"Creator Almighty,
Here I ask for no pity,
But let my innocence be known,
So my beloved need not groan."

The blades did fly,
But all who watched cry,
For none of the sword did touch,
Nor draw from Mahsuri any blood.

"Witch" cried some,
"Demon" others hum,
"Enough," Chieftain seek calm.
"Innocence known if she can be harm."

"So be it!!" Mahsuri cried,
As a sword sliced up her thigh,
Down her belly the metal bit,
Around her the many hearts beat.

"Behold her innocence!!" a man cried,
"Her blood white like divine light!!
This is prove of our crime,
An affront to Heaven in all time."

At this her beloved did fall,
His hidden love left others in awe.
"Forgive me Mahsuri wronged,
Forgive me for following the mindless throng."

"Leave beloved for come the curse,
On this people so perverse,
Seven generations this island fall to waste,
And people will leave with great haste."

With this she returned to the light,
Her white blood faded away from sight,
She who has done only which is right,
Has laid a scourge that can only blight.

Some people scorned this valiant act,
Till the Siamese raided under a broken pact,
Merciless they were in shedding blood,
And swept the island like a flood.

Drought followed, vermin prevailed,
As crops all around began to fail,
Fire raged down both farms and dells,
The island fell as she foretell.