VRIKSHAKA (THE TREE NYMPH) by Parvathi Ramkumar

(Inspired by Salabhanjika, a remarkable 11th century sculpture of a tree nymph housed in the Gwalior Museum, India. Tell me what you think of the poem!)


Against a tree, she stands alone,
A delicate beauty, all of stone.

Her sculpted face of loveliness eternal
Bears knowing, calm eloquence.
Holds she secrets, this beauty in stone?

Her eyes are long, petal like
Her brows bear a gentle arch.
Marred not is she by ravaging time
For how she smiles, enlightened bliss!
What does she know, what has she seen?

Perchance she saw her people in battle,
Perhaps they won, and brought her gold.
Perchance the very cosmos opened,
And filled the world with radiant glow.

A mystery she is, carved from stone.
A timeless marvel, a sight to behold.
Whence she came, no one knows,
As she smiles, she conquers the globe.