83
She dwelt on the hillside by the edge of a maize-field, near the
spring that flows in laughing rills through the solemn shadows
of ancient trees. The women came there to fill their jars, and
travellers would sit there to rest and talk. She worked and
dreamed daily to the tune of the bubbling stream.
One evening the stranger came down from the cloud-hidden peak;
his locks were tangled like drowsy snakes. We asked in wonder,
"Who are you?" He answered not but sat by the garrulous stream
and silently gazed at the hut where she dwelt. Our hearts
quaked in fear and we came back home when it was night.
Next morning when the women came to fetch water at the spring by
the deodar trees, they found the doors open in her hut,
but her voice was gone and where was her smiling face? The
empty jar lay on the floor and her lamp had burnt itself out in
the corner. No one knew where she had fled to before it was
morning—and the stranger had gone.
In the month of May the sun grew strong and the snow melted, and
we sat by the spring and wept. We wondered in our mind, "Is
there a spring in the land where she has gone and where she can
fill her vessel in these hot thirsty days?" And we asked each
other in dismay, "Is there a land beyond these hills where we
live?"
It was a summer night; the breeze blew from the south; and I sat
in her deserted room where the lamp stood still unlit. When
suddenly from before my eyes the hills vanished like curtains
drawn aside. "Ah, it is she who comes. How are you, my child?
Are you happy? But where can you shelter under this open sky?
And, alas, our spring is not here to allay your thirst."
"Here is the same sky," she said, "only free from the fencing
hills,—this is the same stream grown into a river,—the same
earth widened into a plain." "Everything is here," I sighed,
"only we are not." She smiled sadly and said, "You are in my
heart." I woke up and heard the babbling of the stream and the
rustling of the deodars at night.
84
Over the green and yellow rice-fields sweep the shadows of the
autumn clouds followed by the swift chasing sun.
The bees forget to sip their honey; drunken with light they
foolishly hover and hum.
The ducks in the islands of the river clamour in joy for mere
nothing.
Let none go back home, brothers, this morning, let none go to
work.
Let us take the blue sky by storm and plunder space as we run.
Laughter floats in the air like foam on the flood.
Brothers, let us squander our morning in futile songs.
85
Who are you, reader, reading my poems an hundred years hence?
I cannot send you one single flower from this wealth of the
spring, one single streak of gold from yonder clouds.
Open your doors and look abroad.
From your blossoming garden gather fragrant memories of the
vanished flowers of an hundred years before.
In the joy of your heart may you feel the living joy that sang
one spring morning, sending its glad voice across an hundred
years.
INDEX OF FIRST WORDS
No.
A wandering madman was seeking the touchstone 66
Ah me, why did they build my house 4
Ah, poet, the evening draws near 2
Amidst the rush and roar of life 60
An unbelieving smile flits on your eyes 40
At midnight the would-be ascetic announced 75
Come as you are; do not loiter over your toilet 11
Come to us, youth, tell us truly 25
Day after day he comes and goes away 20
Do not go, my love, without asking my leave 34
Do not keep to yourself the secret of your heart, my friend 24
Free me from the bonds of your sweetness, my love 48
Hands cling to hands and eyes linger on eyes 16
Have mercy upon your servant, my queen 1
He whispered, "My love, raise your eyes" 36
I am restless 5
I asked nothing, only stood at the edge of the wood 13
I hold her hands and press her to my breast 49
I hunt for the golden stag 69
I long to speak the deepest words 41
I love you, beloved 33
I often wonder where lie hidden 79
I plucked your flower, O world 57
I remember a day in my childhood 70
I run as a musk-deer runs in the shadow of the forest 15
I spent my day on the scorching hot dust of the road 64
I try to weave a wreath all the morning 39
I was one among many women 56
I was walking by the road, I do not know why 14
If you would be busy and fill your pitcher, come 12
If you would have it so, I will end my singing 47
In the dusky path of a dream I went to seek the love 62
In the morning I cast my net into the sea 3
In the world's audience hall 74
Infinite wealth is not yours 73
Is that your call again 65
It was in May 78
It was mid-day when you want away 55
Lest I should know you too easily, you play with me 35
Let your work be, bride 10
Love, my heart longs day and night 50
My heart, the bird of the wilderness 31
My love, once upon a time your poet launched a great epic 38
No, my friends, I shall never be an ascetic 43
None lives for ever, brother 68
O mad, superbly drunk 42
O mother, the young Prince is to pass by our door 7
O woman, you are not merely the handiwork of God 59
One morning in the flower garden a blind girl came 58
Over the green and yellow rice-fields 84
Peace, my heart, let the time for the parting be sweet 61
Reverend sir, forgive this pair of sinners 44
She dwelt on the hillside 83
Speak to me, my love 29
Tell me if this be all true, my lover 32
The day is not yet done, the fair is not over 71
The fair was on before the temple 76
The tame bird was in a cage 6
The workman and his wife from the west country 77
The yellow bird sings in their tree 17
Then finish the last song and let us leave 51
Though the evening comes with slow steps 67
To the guests that must go bid God's speed 45
Traveller, must you go 63
Trust love even if it brings sorrow 27
We are to play the game of death to-night 82
What comes from your willing hands I take 26
When I go alone at night to my love-tryst 9
When she passed by me with quick steps 22
When the lamp went out by my bed 8
When the two sisters go to fetch water 18
Where do you hurry with your basket 54
Who are you, reader, reading my poems 85
Why did he choose to come to my door 21
Why did the lamp go out 52
Why do you put me to shame with a look 53
Why do you sit there and jingle your bracelets 23
Why do you whisper so faintly in my ears 81
With a glance of your eyes you could plunder 80
With days of hard travail I raised a temple 72
Would you put your wreath of fresh flowers on my neck 37
You are the evening cloud floating in the sky of my dreams 30
You left me and went on your way 46
You walked by the riverside path 19
Your questioning eyes are sad 28