Annette,
At the dresser.
Pale fingers over mirror-fields
Reaping
That wheat brown hair.
Beauty
Falling as chaff in old mirrors,
While calenders
In all
The cities turn….

In the poem “Annette” by Kamala Das, the speaker addresses a woman named Annette who is portrayed standing at a dresser. Annette’s actions are simple but profound – she runs her pale fingers through her wheat-brown hair as if harvesting or reaping it. The imagery of mirror-fields suggests a reflection of oneself, indicating a moment of self-awareness and contemplation.

The core theme of the poem revolves around the concept of beauty. The speaker describes beauty as falling like chaff in old mirrors, underscoring its ephemeral and delicate nature. The mirrors, characterized as “old,” imply a sense of nostalgia and the passage of time, as they reflect the changes in Annette’s appearance.

The poem concludes with a broader perspective, mentioning calendars turning in cities. This universal image emphasizes the unstoppable progression of time across various locations. The turning of calendars serves as a symbol for the collective experience of time passing, linking the personal reflection of Annette to a more widespread, shared human existence.

In essence, “Annette” captures a moment of self-reflection, where the central figure engages with her own beauty in the context of time’s ceaseless flow. The poem offers a snapshot of a universal experience, prompting readers to consider the transience of beauty and the inevitability of change.