Sweet Nothings: Love Poems By Amaru

Lee Siegel’s English translation of the Amarushataka an aristocratic collection of eighth-century amorous Sanskrit poems is at once playful and erudite amusing and poignant carnal and sublime. The stanzas are little scenes from a panoramic comedy of erotic love..The characters: Innocent girls and passionate ladies; devoted husbands and faithless rogues; female confidantes who help console or betray their friends. The plot: First love sexual union separation (because of parents friends or the woman’s jealous anger because the man has another mistress or perhaps he must go on a journey) reunion re-separation re-reunion.. The theme is the delight of the game the deliciousness of courtship and the sweetness of sex.