The sunbeams like the fires are hot
    That on the altar wake;
  The enmity is quite forgot
    Of peacock and of snake;
  The peacock spares his ancient foe,
    For pluck and hunger fail;
  He hides his burning head below
    The shadow of his tail.

  Beneath the garland of the rays
    That leave no corner cool,
  The water vanishes in haze
    And leaves a muddy pool;
  The cobra does not hunt for food
    Nor heed the frog at all
  Who finds beneath the serpent’s hood
    A sheltering parasol.

  Dear maiden of the graceful song,
    To you may summer’s power
  Bring moonbeams clear and garlands long
    And breath of trumpet-flower,
  Bring lakes that countless lilies dot,
    Refreshing water-sprays,
  Sweet friends at evening, and a spot
    Cool after burning days.

  THE RAINS

  The rain advances like a king
    In awful majesty;
  Hear, dearest, how his thunders ring
    Like royal drums, and see
  His lightning-banners wave; a cloud
    For elephant he rides,
  And finds his welcome from the crowd
    Of lovers and of brides.

  The clouds, a mighty army, march
    With drumlike thundering
  And stretch upon the rainbow’s arch
    The lightning’s flashing string;
  The cruel arrows of the rain
    Smite them who love, apart
  From whom they love, with stinging pain,
    And pierce them to the heart.

  The forest seems to show its glee
    In flowering nipa plants;
  In waving twigs of many a tree
    Wind-swept, it seems to dance;
  Its ketak-blossom’s opening sheath
    Is like a smile put on
  To greet the rain’s reviving breath,
    Now pain and heat are gone.

  To you, dear, may the cloudy time
    Bring all that you desire,
  Bring every pleasure, perfect, prime,
    To set a bride on fire;
  May rain whereby life wakes and shines
    Where there is power of life,
  The unchanging friend of clinging vines,
    Shower blessings on my wife.

  AUTUMN

  The autumn comes, a maiden fair
    In slenderness and grace,
  With nodding rice-stems in her hair
    And lilies in her face. 
  In flowers of grasses she is clad;
    And as she moves along,
  Birds greet her with their cooing glad
    Like bracelets’ tinkling song.

  A diadem adorns the night
    Of multitudinous stars;
  Her silken robe is white moonlight,
    Set free from cloudy bars;
  And on her face (the radiant moon)
    Bewitching smiles are shown: 
  She seems a slender maid, who soon
    Will be a woman grown.

  Over the rice-fields, laden plants
    Are shivering to the breeze;
  While in his brisk caresses dance
    The blossom-burdened trees;
  He ruffles every lily-pond
    Where blossoms kiss and part,
  And stirs with lover’s fancies fond
    The young man’s eager heart.