A Hindu woman beauty

Translucent neck, crescent forehead,

Bow like eyebrow, doe’s eyes,

Hilly cheeks, cherry lips,

Beaky nose, milky teeth,

With back drop of cloudy hair

Provide a countenance. It strikes.

Snake-gourd arms, tulip palm,

Snaky fingers, eggi nails,

Dicot branching breasts

Decking out like cashew apples,

Banyan leaf like belly

Provide a profile. It hooks.

Boat like beam, banana stem thighs,

Pomegranate open fruit in between,

Crane legs and the feet

As tapering as the bud of banana

Inflorescence,

Provide a receptacle. It arrests.

Then a woman has no need

To be adorned and ornamented,

To catch hold of a king.

24.12.2000, Pmdi