What is this drink but
The April sun, squeezed
Like an orange in
My glass? I sip the
Fire, I drink and drink
Again, I am drunk
Yes, but on the gold
of suns, What noble
venom now flows through
my veins and fills my
mind with unhurried
laughter? My worries
doze. Wee bubblesring
my glass, like a brides
nervous smile, and meet
my lips. Dear, forgive
this moments lull in
wanting you, the blur
in memory. How
brief the term of my
devotion, how brief
your reign when i with
glass in hand, drink, drink,
and drink again this
Juice of April suns.
The poem “Summer in Calcutta” by Kamala Das is a vivid portrayal of a summer day in the city of Calcutta. While the title suggests a focus on the season, the poem delves deeper into themes of love, desire, and the complex emotions of the speaker.
The opening lines present a rhetorical question, with the speaker describing her drink as nothing but the squeezed essence of the April sun, akin to orange juice. The speaker, implicitly addressing societal expectations and restrictions on women, emphasizes that she is merely sipping the sun’s warmth.
As the poem progresses, the speaker describes the act of repeatedly sipping the “fire” of the sun. This repetition serves as a persuasive device, perhaps aimed at challenging societal norms and convincing others of the innocence of her actions. The metaphorical intoxication by the “gold of suns” suggests a state of blissful pleasure and liberation from worries.
The imagery of bubbles in the glass, likened to a bride’s nervous smile, adds a layer of innocence and excitement. The speaker confesses to a momentary distraction from thoughts of a beloved person but seeks forgiveness, highlighting the transient nature of emotions.
The poem concludes with the speaker acknowledging the brevity of devotion and the fleeting nature of her partner’s reign. The act of drinking the “Juice of April suns” becomes a metaphor for indulging in the ephemeral joys of life.
“Summer in Calcutta” captures a moment of sensory and emotional experience, celebrating the beauty of the season while subtly addressing societal expectations and restrictions, especially concerning women’s behavior and desires. Kamala Das employs rich and symbolic language to convey the complexities of human emotions and the desire for liberation.
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