The Cane Groves of Narmada River: Erotic Poems from Old India

by Andrew Schelling (Editor)

An exceptional selection of erotic poetry from ancient India, The Cane Groves of Narmada River features poems composed from the second century CE to the sixteenth century. Starting with several poems from the Prakrit anthology attributed to King Hala, the Sattasai, the book then takes in its sweep some of the most famous and enduring erotic poems composed in Sanskrit (and related vernacular traditions) by poets like Amaru, Bhavabhuti, Bhartrihari, Hemachandra and Vidya among others. Uninhibited, poignant and filled with tenderness and longing, these poems are a glorious celebration of love, sex and beauty.

Through the whole night we slowly made love,
body pressed against body,
cheek against cheek.
We spoke every thought that came into mind.
Lost in each other’s arms
lost in words, we never noticed
dawn had come
the night flown

Genres: Poetry, India, Literature, Erotica, Fiction

94 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1998

About the author

Andrew Schelling is a poet, essayist, and translator of the poetry of India. He has taught at Naropa University for twenty years and from 1993–96 served as chair of the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics founded by Alan Ginsburg and Anne Waldman. His publications include Tea Shack Interior and The Wisdom Anthology of North American Buddhist Poetry. He lives in Boulder, Colorado.

Reviews

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

By turns profane, exalted, loving, angry, leisured, urgent and much more. Our ancestors were better at writing about love and lust than we seem to be. Some of these, a very few, seemed not erotic but more general personal reminiscence? Definitely one to read several times or dip into again over time.

[Ashok Krishna · Rating 4 out of 5]

These poems are the remnants of a time when India was everything it is touted to be.

Will share the complete review soon.

[Aparna Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such beautiful and engaging poems - some made me think, some made me sad while others made me laugh - but one thing constant throughout the book was a smile at the sheer depth and versatility in the poems from our old india.

[Prabhat Gusain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Night after night in the
rainy season
I'd push my way
through village mud to your door
the mud is no different today
but how
cold you have grown
how ungrateful

Anonymous
Sattasai 5.45

[Joelle.P.S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gift from Elisa. :)