A Woman’s Gift

By SURESHCHANDRA CHAKRAVARTY

(Translated by the writer from his original Bengali)

I

What hast thou brought me, Sweetheart, tell me, what hast thou brought?

Hast thou brought Heaven’s immortal nectar,

Or garlands woven of the flowers from Nandan gardens,

Or music from the anklets of the divine dancing Urvashi’s feet?

Hast thou brought the flower-festival of Basava?

Or immortality from other gods?

Rummaging the three worlds

What gift hast thou brought filled in thy two lotus-hands?

She said–“None of those;

I have brought a woman’s heart which I took ages to fashion.”

II

What have you brought me, Woman, tell me, what have you brought?

Have you brought the message of light from the distant stars?

Or filling your two eyes with the cool delight of the moon, you have

brought it to pour into my thirsty heart ?

Have you brought in your heart the songs that are floating in the breeze?

Or have you brought to the earth the far-off dream-land, which seems

to be hanging in the evening-sky?

She said–“None of those;

Fashioned out of love and affection, a home I have brought to fix it

on this earth.”

III

What have you brought me, O loving-one, tell me, what have you brought?

Have you brought the happiness of an infinite song?

Are you carrying in the hem of your garment the happiest future

unimagined of man?

From the bosom of Eternity

Have you brought the lamp to be kept burning in the gloom of my heart? Have you brought to this mortal earth an eternal song in infinite joy?

She said–“None of those;

I have brought a moment’s song,

To beguile unhappy moments.”

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