Mulleriyawa is a Memory-Ground

Blood was shed in 1562

blood, like any other blood,

in any other year,

here or there or anywhere

but Mulleriyawa,

deliberately 'asylumed'

on account of shame

was bloodied

in the name

of way of life

and by way of life

in the art of war

of have-to-do

and why and when and how

as it is

when invader is tested

and bested

as it will be

450 years hence

in that other 'Angampora'

of the relevant age:

Mulleriyawa is battleground

and memory

of an insanity

that was cured.

[Inspired by the photography of Sanka Gallage who captured a special display of the ancient Sinhala art of war, 'Angampora' by Mahantha Arachchige Ajantha Perera and his students commemorating the 450th anniversary of the historic victory of the Sinhalese over the Portuguese in Mulleriy]

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