UNFINISHED
Tell him, please tell
him -
At long last I met
him.
At that time at the
end of a shower,
the sun had come out
and touched
the blooming bunch of
Gulmohar flowers.
At the temple inside
the forest,
there was sound of
music from the trees,
The song of praise of
the eternal was heard –
Tears flowed from my
eyes,
I felt humbled by the
prayer,
Mesmerized were my
mind and soul.
Over how many births
and rebirths,
the boon from the
gods
-on speechless nights
of destiny -
has been writing
across the sky,
words of reassurance
of this meeting of ours!
Along the shore of
existence,
I have carried the
message of that meeting
through the flow of
my blood.
Looking at the
distant sky, my eager eyes
search for a note for
the lyric embedded in that meeting.
Please tell him today
–
‘We have come to know
each other now.
You guest of mine,
silently and repeatedly
like a shadow - trembling
– you came to my door.
On how many nights of
the month of Chaitra
-through
the fragrance of unseen flowers -
your breath coming
close to me, vibrated my veil
and made the strings
of the sitar cry.’
Please tell him today
–
‘I felt deeply
ashamed within.
I could not say
anything as my throat was choked,
Neither did I have
the dress befitting the occasion.
It is full moon that
is hidden in my bosom,
It was the new moon only,
that you encountered that day.
Day by day, my dear, my
offerings are bound to increase -
Please forgive me for
my penury of the day.’
Dr DEBIDAS RAY.
English translation
of Rabindranath Tagore’s poem entitled
“Asamapta” from his
collection of poems “Mahua” in
SANCHAYITA, 11th.ed
2010, pp625-6
Original Bengali poem
first line – bolo, tare bolo
Published
in THE VISVA-BHARATI QUARTERLY
Volume
24 Numbers 2 & 3 July 2015 – December 2015 pp2-3
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