A Hindu Woman Beauty Poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

Translucent neck, crescent forehead,
Bow like eyebrow, doe’s eyes,
Hilly cheeks, cherry lips,
Beaky nose, milky teeth,
With back dropp 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 arreats.

Then a woman has no need
To be adorned and ornamented,
To catch hold of a king.
24.12.2000, Pmdi