The wrapper has no use

However fully you are wrapped,


However wholly you are draped,


You are to me fully naked.
How fully wrapped you appear!


How wholly draped you are!


However, you are to me naked.


Your pallu round the lean arm


Hides from me your flat belly.


Your pallu thrown over shoulder,


Close to neck gives me a clue


How deep your cleavage beneath is.


Your pallu brought backward


Covers the blouse with bra cut.


Your pallu brought forward over your shoulder
encloses your deep armpit,


And the dimple of elbow.


Your pallu never runs over the head,


Which gives me all the clue


How you will look where you’re hidden.


I can see your long face, long nape,


and long hair and long fingers,


By which I can sense your hidden parts.




To my passion or to my acumen-


To which should the credit go?






You can shut to my eyes.


You cannot stop my eyes.


11.05.2001, Pmdi [repetition]


[pallu is the end portion of Indian woman saree, thown over the chest and a shoulder to hide the contour of one’s breasts]