Moods of A Princess

                   I

After  a sandal oil massage

Princess walked on velvet carpets

to her private swimming pool

scented by jasmine buds,

petals of champa and primrose the pool

like a designer honey pond gathered

her lush body with a swish,

her shapely breasts rose on the water,

the age fellows sang maiden grace

the water clung to the Princess

like the flies of coloured wings

when she came out for towelling

the marble steps simmered in glee.

What will you wear your Majesty

Silk, muslin or- Bring me my sheer

cotton gown and leave, I’ll now sleep

and dream of my lost kingdom.

                        II

Evening clouds gathered in the sky

droplets fell on tired flowers

the princess hummed a sweet note

Here is your juice  your Majesty!

What juice?

Grapes your Majesty!

See the rains have come

to give me love juice

I’ll fly like lightning

to my  Prince’s cave...

There is no love fruit

no such tree your majesty:

Bring me poison then

I must liberate myself

to join my doting love, go.

                     III

Your dinner is untouched Majesty!

I’ve eaten

What Majesty?

What you can never serve

what the angels haven’t seen

I ate the blue of the sky

dark love juice sent by him

he whose cave shames heaven

I’ll wash my mouth when he comes

biting his lips love inebriated.

He has come my lady

he is in the central hall:

How dare he come here?

How dare you bring him in,

go and tell him to go back

to his cave and wait for me

I’ll fly to him in my next birth.

Sabita Sahu