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.

• The Drama of India - An overview of early Hindu drama.
• In the Court Theatre of Ujain, 1400 years ago - An historical re-imagining of the Court premiere of Kalidasa's "Shakuntala".
• Kalidasa - A biography of the Indian poet and dramatist.
• Kalidasa: Bibliography - A bibliography of the works of Kalidasa; includes a list of critical resources.
• Purchase books by Kalidasa