POEM FROM TAMIL LITERATURE ON PHILANTHROPY 10

In this disturbing and heart-wrenching poem, Donate what you can, a poet expresses his disappointment about being denied alms by the King and gives serious advice that false promises will malign the reputation of a King when he promises what he cannot give and refuse what he can. But at the same time to give what he can and refuse what he cannot is a noble gesture of friendliness. Without being vindictive the poet leaves the court of the King lamenting about his poor wife sitting in a wind shelter with great hopes of her husband bringing some relief to their poverty-stricken state