Monday, March 06, 2006

My favorite in Gitanjali

One poem (numbered 52) in the Gitanjali collection that had stitched me unto the book... the verses I kept reading again and again, mysteriously intoxicated by the words weaved into it!

I thought I should ask of thee--but I dared not--the rose wreath thou hadst on thy neck. Thus I waited for the morning, when thou didst depart, to find a few fragments on the bed. And like a beggar I searched in the dawn only for a stray petal or two.
Ah me, what is it I find? What token left of thy love? It is no flower, no spices, no vase of perfumed water. It is thy mighty sword, flashing as a flame, heavy as a bolt of thunder. The young light of morning comes through the window and spreads itself upon thy bed. The morning bird twitters and asks, 'Woman, what hast thou got?' No, it is no flower, nor spices, nor vase of perfumed water--it is thy dreadful sword.

I sit and muse in wonder, what gift is this of thine. I can find no place to hide it. I am ashamed to wear it, frail as I am, and it hurts me when I press it to my bosom. Yet shall I bear in my heart this honour of the burden of pain, this gift of thine.

From now there shall be no fear left for me in this world, and thou shalt be victorious in all my strife. Thou hast left death for my companion and I shall crown him with my life. Thy sword is with me to cut asunder my bonds, and there shall be no fear left for me in the world.

From now I leave off all petty decorations. Lord of my heart, no more shall there be for me waiting and weeping in corners, no more coyness and sweetness of demeanour. Thou hast given me thy sword for adornment. No more doll's decorations for me!


And this reminds me.... hey Krish, where is my book???? :O

5 Comments:

At 6:52 AM, March 06, 2006, Blogger DD said...

I was begging you, oh God, for pleasant, soft and tiny pleasures in life(rose petals from your wreath). But you gift me something that is far beyond my imagination and strength... I dont even know if I deserve to accept it...(sword, signifying higher ideals)

When I embrace your gift, it pains my soft soul... This very frailness makes me feel ashamed of touching your higher gift. But when I understand that you have honoured me with it, I accept it wholeheartedly!(the honour of the burden of pain)

I emerge grownup to your expectations. I no more crave for those lowly pleasures as I have been honoured with a higher purpose now!(thy sword for adornment. No more doll's decorations for me)


I cant help but to keep wondering the ability of a person to think so deep and relate so beautifully to the metaphors!

 
At 10:25 AM, March 07, 2006, Blogger ck said...

wow! DD, you are reading Gitanjali?
pretty high five for my standards. I couldn't understand those lines till i read your translation. Anyways, Happy Reading!

 
At 8:27 AM, March 08, 2006, Blogger DD said...

CK, dont tell me you dint understand it!!
btw, that was my interpretation... for those words that really struck me so much... may be there are other perceptions too :)

 
At 8:48 AM, March 08, 2006, Blogger Krish said...

Your book!!..my foot!!!...It is not going to get back to you babe!!!..take it from me!

 
At 8:50 AM, March 08, 2006, Blogger DD said...

seruppu pinjidum... mariyadhaya thiruppi kudukkara nee!!

 

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