PoetrySelected 15 Oct 2026
In Praise Of Henna
In Praise Of Henna, by Sarojini Naidu.
Indian · English
Sarojini Naidu1905
English translation prepared automatically for the Brief. Original sources and creator credits remain the reference.
A kokila called from a henna-spray: LIRA! LIREE! LIRA! LIREE! Hasten, maidens, hasten away To gather the leaves of the henna-tree. Send your pitchers afloat on the tide, Gather the leaves ere the dawn be old, Grind them in mortars of amber and gold, The fresh green leaves of the henna-tree. A kokila called from a henna-spray: LIRA! LIREE! LIRA! LIREE! Hasten maidens, hasten away To gather the leaves of the henna-tree. The tilka's red for the brow of a bride, And betel-nut's red for lips that are sweet; But, for lily-like fingers and feet, The red, the red of the henna-tree.
The work and its creator
Explore the original at Project Gutenberg ↗
Creator: Sarojini Naidu
Nationality / cultural background: Indian
Work / edition: 1905
Historical public-domain text. Selected passage; line-end whitespace normalised. No generated quotation.
In the source: IN PRAISE OF HENNA
Selected for the Brief on 15 Oct 2026. This date records our selection, rather than when the work was created.
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