Theme: Devotion

My Gifts

You have given songs to the birds
And they sing those songs
No more can they give
You have given me voice
I give you more in return
I make songs.

You have made air free
And it is still your slave though unbound
You have given me a burden
With that load I walk my way
Sometimes straight sometimes astray
I leave that load behind through my deaths
When I reach you at last
I am totally poor yet totally free
Freeing myself from the bondage you gave.

You gave the moon only smiles
It pours happy dreams
It overflows the world with happiness and fun
You gave me sorrows
Washing them with my tears
I transform them into delights
And at the day's end
When we meet to unite
I give them to you as my presents.

You made this bare earth
Mixing both light and shade
On it you left me empty handed
You heartily laugh
Remaining hidden behind
You have given me the task
Of making a heaven on that earth.

To others you always give
But from me you only want
What I can give you in love
Getting down from your throne
You are so pleased to take
And what you give me
From me you get its manifold.



Translation of poem 28 from Balaka by Rabindranath Tagore. The original is at http://www.rabindra-rachanabali.nltr.org/node/12270.



31-Dec-2006

More By  :  Kumud Biswas

Views: 1502     Comments: 0


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