Saturday, October 17, 2015

Waiting for Rain





T.S. Eliot, The Waste Land (TWL), lines 396-399





          Ganga was sunken, and the limp leaves

                    Ganga is India’s River Ganges, said to sustain a tenth of the world’s 
                    population. In Indian legend, Ganga, a river goddess, flowed in the 
                    mountains of Paradise until King Bhagiratha prayed a thousand years 
                    to bring her down to earth.  See Valmiki, Ramayana 1 (Bala Kanda, 
                    Book of Youth): 42-43 (ca. 400 BC)

          Waited for rain, while the black clouds
          Gathered far distant, over Himavant.

                    Himavant is a holy mountain in the Himalayas, literally the snowy 
                    mountain. Himavant is also the mountain personified, the Hindu God 
                    of Snow, father of the river goddess Ganga.  See Valmiki, Ramayana 
                    1.42.23).

          The jungle crouched, humped in silence.
          Then spoke the thunder...


from T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land, with annotations (and other explanations)

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