Moonlit Solace Found
after Kālidāsa
In the stillness of a moonlit night the stars shone bright with gentle light upon the face of a lonely nymph who sat beside a tranquil lake’s dark shore her thoughts a mixture of sorrow and peace as she pondered the absence of her love the water’s edge lapped softly at her feet a soothing melody that calmed her soul
the world was hushed a quiet reverie where the only sound was the night’s sweet sigh and in this calm the nymph found solace deep a sense of peace that only night can keep the moon’s pale glow upon her face did shine illuminating the depths of her heart’s dark mine and in its light she found a love profound a love that echoed through the stillness all around
I drew from Kālidāsa's use of celestial bodies and nature to explore the inner lives of women, and his subtle shifts from description to introspection to create a sense of flowing music. I approached the emotional register of melancholy, which is less common in his works, to create a unique piece that still belongs to his lineage.