720

No Prisoner be—
Where Liberty—
Himself—abide with Thee—

If someone is rejected in love, s/he shall turn into a foe.
My born-blind heart has never fallen in love
with anybody; throughout the whole life, he has walked alone
on the dry path putting on a pair of old shoes.
That's why, I have enmity with none.

Translated from Bengali by the poet

No doubt about it,
the mountain cuckoo
is a crybaby.


Translated by Robert Hass

Nestas folhas perfumadas
Pelas rosas desfolhadas
Desses cantos de amizade,
Permite que venha agora
Quem longe da pátria chora
Bem triste gravar: — saudade!

not much chance,

By children's births, and death, I am become
So dry, that I am now mine own sad tomb.

Ninny Nanny Netticoat,
In a white petticoat,
With a red nose, --
The longer she stands,
The shorter she grows.

It's night

Mein Esel sicherlich
Muss klueger sein, als ich.
Ja, klueger muss er sein!
Er fand sich selbst in Stall hinein,
Und kam doch von der Traenke.
Man denke!

The patient stars are shining large and clear;
The crescent moon hangs like a tilted bowl;
So calm, so still, that I can almost hear
Thoughts stirring in the chambers of my soul.