The Silken Tassel/Lalita
Lalita
Lalita sleeps beside a lake within her garden green,
The snow-white hansas[1] are as still upon the waters seen:
O soft her slumber glides along the eyes that now are closed,
As soft and sweet the evening breeze blows on the day reposed.
The snow-white hansas[1] are as still upon the waters seen:
O soft her slumber glides along the eyes that now are closed,
As soft and sweet the evening breeze blows on the day reposed.
The bunyan, palm and mango trees, o’erarch’d above her sleep,
Repel the frisky sunbeams that thro’ them persisting peep:
And soft the shadows slip upon her breast that gently heaves,
And Light and Shade play hide-and-seek upon the glossy leaves.
Repel the frisky sunbeams that thro’ them persisting peep:
And soft the shadows slip upon her breast that gently heaves,
And Light and Shade play hide-and-seek upon the glossy leaves.
Like rose-buds are her eye-lids closed so tender and so light,
That through their half-transparent doors her dreams are fluttering bright:
And softly stir her limbs while in her dreams some fancy dips,
As moves the lotus when the bhramar[2] fond its nectar sips.
That through their half-transparent doors her dreams are fluttering bright:
And softly stir her limbs while in her dreams some fancy dips,
As moves the lotus when the bhramar[2] fond its nectar sips.
Lalita sleeps as fair and sweet upon the grassy green,
As on the sunset green the rosy smile of eve is seen:
Her head is on a heap of flowers that her rich breath inhale,
Her rosy-velvet feet impress the rose on poppies pale.
As on the sunset green the rosy smile of eve is seen:
Her head is on a heap of flowers that her rich breath inhale,
Her rosy-velvet feet impress the rose on poppies pale.
Her peacock-painted saree[3] doth her perfect form adorn,
Through which her arms and feet shoot out like golden bars of morn:
Her magic-streaming choli[4] her soft bloom of youth enfolds,
And her young overflowing love there carefully withholds.
Through which her arms and feet shoot out like golden bars of morn:
Her magic-streaming choli[4] her soft bloom of youth enfolds,
And her young overflowing love there carefully withholds.
Her radiant face doth tempt the heavens to make another moon,
Ah! Nature not to Mother Earth gave such another boon:
Her virgin light around her shines like the halo of the sun,
Which sheds her power and glory more than any saint has won.
Ah! Nature not to Mother Earth gave such another boon:
Her virgin light around her shines like the halo of the sun,
Which sheds her power and glory more than any saint has won.
Oh! she is made of flowers and light, innocent, sweet and pure:
The lotus, lily, jasmine, gul-chhadi[5] and rose allure
The souls of men to this their home of a million flowers’ perfume,
And a million stars were emptied for her spirit to illume!
The lotus, lily, jasmine, gul-chhadi[5] and rose allure
The souls of men to this their home of a million flowers’ perfume,
And a million stars were emptied for her spirit to illume!
Sweet is the Moon half-setting on the sea that partly shines,
And sweet is Shukra[6] resting on a cloud with silvery lines,
Sweet is the Spring that sleeps within her green-gay woody seat,
But sweeter is to see a maiden sleeping lonely-sweet!
And sweet is Shukra[6] resting on a cloud with silvery lines,
Sweet is the Spring that sleeps within her green-gay woody seat,
But sweeter is to see a maiden sleeping lonely-sweet!
O soft her sleep is like the magic of a charmer’s lute,
O soft! her soul is swimming in the happy dreams of youth;
O soft! upon her rainbow-brows a world of glory gleams:
Ah! who would not desire to smile within her virgin dreams!
O soft! her soul is swimming in the happy dreams of youth;
O soft! upon her rainbow-brows a world of glory gleams:
Ah! who would not desire to smile within her virgin dreams!