AUTUMN
by: Kalidasa (c. 500)
- HE autumn
comes, a maiden fair
- In slenderness and grace,
- With nodding rice-stems in her hair
- And lilies in her face.
- In flowers of grasses she is clad;
- And as she moves along,
- Birds greet her with their cooing glad
- Like bracelets' tinkling song.
-
- A diadem adorns the night
- Of multitudinous stars;
- Her silken robe is white moonlight,
- Set free from cloudy bars;
- And on her face (the radiant moon)
- Bewitching smiles are shown:
- She seems a slender maid, who soon
- Will be a woman grown.
-
- Over the rice-fields, laden plants
- Are shivering to the breeze;
- While in his brisk caresses dance
- The blossomed-burdened trees;
- He ruffles every lily-pond
- Where blossoms kiss and part,
- And stirs with lover's fancies fond
- The young man's eager heart.
This English translation of "Autumn"
was composed by Arthur W. Ryder (1877-1938). |
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