THE SERENADE

There was no dearth
Of beauty on earth,
But all have been put to shame
By that demi-goddess-
With a moonlit bodice
Cladding her hourglass frame-

        The way shells hide
        Somewhere inside
        Them, an untouched unseen pearl.
        The way buds sprout-
        This pearl comes out
        In guise of a beautiful girl-

So charming, so fetching-
While writhing and stretching
Her shimmering, shivering shape,
Her casual yawn
Makes rays of dawn
Swathe her in a gossamer drape,

        Which the breeze unfurls
        When it shrivels and curls
        Up around her lissome neck
        And shoulders bare-
        So lithe, so fair-
        Blemishes-not a speck!

Adornments-not a bit!
Make-up-not a whit!
She's nature in its purest form.
The pulchritude and grace,
Simplicity on her face
Can soothe a raging storm.

        Her beatific smile
        Even for a while
        Would set sail a thousand ships.
        I'd kiss the death
        To become the breath
        That severs those ruby lips,

Or the wind, that blows
And mischievously throws
Her locks all over her face
And blushing so much
With a gentle touch
She puts them back in place.

        The cascade black
        Falls on her back
        Splashing off her shoulders-
        Her lustrous hair
        Put passions on flare
        This heart silently smolders.

Her delicate palms,
Her slender arms,
Are charms that cast a spell;
Sweet and sublime
As musical chime-
Voice of the beauteous belle!

        Coyness immense;
        Without pretense;
        Innocence as that of a doe!
        But then who delivers
        The murderous quivers
        To the crimson Cupid’s bow?

All love potions,
All her emotions,
Glimmer in a gorgeous gleam
In the oceans deep-
As if after a sleep
Her eyes still bearing the dream

        Shining as bright
        As evening twilight,
        As fresh as the morning dew,
        As white as snow,
        With a rosy glow-
        Such is her radiant hue!

And elixir within
Her supple skin
Can silks ever be more smooth?
Did fragrance of flowers
Pour down in showers
As she bathed in the fountain of youth?

        Nothing in the world,
        No picture, no word
        Delineates her complexion.
        I wonder how well
        Can a mirror tell
        Her image in reflection!

Oh beauty pristine!
Oh seraphic queen!
My heart's so eager to deify you;
But oh svelte dame
I find no name
By which I can glorify you!

        You are one in a zillion!
        You are the only one-
        Your beauty is so nonpareil
        That my efforts to describe it,
        In words to inscribe it
        Have all been to no avail.

Yet, all I love to do-
(To be very true)
Is to observe something in you,
And find thoughts to feed
My undying need
To express it in ways anew;

        And just to adore you-
        Genuflecting before you-
        With a heart for you palpitating,
        For your love to bless me,
        Your arms to caress me,
        I keep eternally waiting...