Song Offerings Original: Rabindranath Tagore Translations(except no. 1): Haider A. Khan

Song Offerings Original: Rabindranath Tagore Translations(except no. 1): Haider A. Khan

(1) Light, my light, the worldfilling light, the eye-kissing light, head-sweetening light! Ah!, the light dances, my darling, at the centre of my life; the light strikes, my darling, the chords of my love; the sky opens, the wind runs wild, laughter passes over the earth. The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light. Lilies and jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of tight. The light is shattered into gold on every cloud, my darling, and it scatters gems is profusion. Mirth spreads from leaf to leaf, my darling and gladness without measure. The heaven's river has drowned its banks and the flood of joy is abroad. (Translation by Rabindranath Tagore) (2) red dust... this country road is endless magic on my mind... Ah! for whom do I stretch out my hands spread myself on this dusty road? the road lures me out of my home eagerly it twists around my legs it snatches me out of my rest will it show me some new hearth? magic on my mind... does it have some hidden treasure at some bend along the way? or, will it simply trap me with some new burden? oh, where will it end? I do not know I can not know magic on my mind... (3) Take this heart of mine let it rock with your own rhythm Make this heart of mine forget everything everyone else tells me They bind me every day in twisted knots of words Play your flute; unbind all the knots. Now I remember, for so many days and nights I was your dearest playmate today, just as you did before hold me, hold me before you Make those waves of playful joy rise up in my breast. (4) How you sing your songs, oh mastersinger I can only listen and wonder the light of your melody

surrounds the earth the music travels through the sky the rocks and stones themselves become a limpid current in the flow of such divine music. I, too, wish to sing like you Alas! I cannot find this melody in me words falter, and in my defeat I cry how you have set a trap for me with such munificence of melody all around me. (5) my freedom is in the light in this sky my freedom is in every grain of dust in every blade of grass on this earth beyond this body and this mind I lose myself completely in the reverberations of music high above in an enchanting melody rings freedom my freedom is in the heart of everyone in the work that defies sorrow and danger in the vastness of this universe I will gladly lose my small self for freedom eternal (6) The path I must take curves around the bend, away from your path far, far away. I do not know if ever in the future my flowers will weave a 'garland for you. Your flute cries in the wind far far away. For whom does it play? Now I am tired and weary tired and weary, I rest under a tree to whom shall I tell my sorrow of losing my love? All the others go their own way leaving me behind (7) I must go now, take my leave open the doors-open open

I have seen everything I have mingled with everyone I have played in the light & darkness all those are dreams now forget them, forget them the sky is already filled with a melody from far away my heart soars towards the unknown oh the dream of a distant land oh the dream of so much sweetness show me the way to the love within me take off all these external coverings to reveal the naked beauty within (8) Long, long ago on that spring evening we were together on that flowery swing let us never forget my love Oh, never, never forget... on that evening even the air carried the mad prolusions of my love-lost mind the sky and the breeze carried the smile on your lips with the moon above us it was the magic hour of our meeting Now my time is past alone I must bear this pain But the bond of our love is still here in your heart and mine let us never forget my love oh, never, never forget... (9, 16) Let me surrender myself at your feet. Let all my pride be drowned in my tears. In trying to bring glory for myself I only insult my inner self. Time after time I only revolve around myself. Let me not seek to glorify myself in my work. Only let your will be fulfilled in my life. I only seek the ultimate peace the radiance that is in you. Let your lotus like heart cover the smallness of my own being.

(10) At the end of the rainy night the dark clouds mingle with bright light On the bamboo groves, leaves glow with colors my heart loses itself in colors, flows to places unknown. This play of colors on grass reflect the vibrations of my soul blood rushes through my body in love for this earth, this light my heart plays in the forest - laughter without end. (11) I have travelled this road so many times I never missed him for a single day before is he gone now? grass covers his path But I know in my heart I will not lose you a gentle breeze blows in the forest I will know you when the time comes you know me too already, this I know I used to carry my lamp all alone its flame has died in my hands But I know deep in my heart the stars in the sky will light up my path the flowers that have bloomed by the road they will guide me gently by their fragrance within them is your secret sign. (12) if no one comes when you call then go it alone, my friend if no one dare speak if everyone turns away in fear then open your heart and speak your own words my friend, if everyone turns back in the deep forest path if no one wants to look ahead then you must thread the thorns by yourself, my friend if no one gives you a light if in the dark, stormy and rainy night they all close their doors then in the light of the thunder kindle your own heart and bum all alone, my friend, (13) the last days of spring

alas! how soon they pass the cuckoo calls ceaselessly from among the trees afar the Bokul flowers fall the wind is restless my mind dissolves in their fragrance the mango groves rejoice in the warmth the shadows shimmer with the humming of the bees without any reason I am oblivious to everything around me who plays her veena in my heart, indifferent to all the worldly matters? (14) Oh Death, you are my true love you have the color of dark clouds your matted hair flows from the dark heavens your palm - a blood-red lotus flower ruby-red are your sensuous lips your eyes gentle, will deliver me from pain you will embrace me and make me your own today my heart aches - beats anxiously ceaseless is the flow of my tears today Oh Death you are my mate, my Madhava please take away my suffering please close my eyes gently Oh Death Come, Oh come to me. I know you will not leave me for another you are not like men, you will not break my heart your heart and mine will always be together I will rest forever in your incomparable gaze the sky is black, darkness surrounds me the sound of thunder and the flash of lightning strike fear in my heart even the trees look afraid there is no one on the road I will go alone to my tryst with you fear itself will be come my fearless guide you are my true love, why should I hesitate? Bhanu says: Oh Radha do not be so despondent the love of your life is greater than death please be calm and think. (15)

I have found my place among the sun and the stars in the march of life in this world my song comes from my amazement in the very center of my being in the flow of my blood I feel the movement of this universe my song comes from this amazement. I have stopped on the grass in the forrest path I have drank the fragrance of flowers - joy has engulfed my mind everywhere these gifts of ecstasy my song comes from this amazement I have listened I have seen I have given my own heart to this earth I have sought the unknown among the known My song comes from such an amazement, simply because I am here. (9, 16) Let me surrender myself at your feet. Let all my pride be drowned in my tears. In trying to bring glory for myself I only insult my inner self. Time after time I only revolve around myself. Let me not seek to glorify myself in my work. Only let your will be fulfilled in my life. I only seek the ultimate peace the radiance that is in you. Let your lotus like heart cover the smallness of my own being. (17) Far, Far away my mind wanders following the strains of the flute where the wind weeps my beggar heart wants to follow the path that goes beyond all the lands the path to the land no one knows... (18) who is it dancing in my heart always ta ta thai thai ta ta thai thai ta ta thai thai his steps always follow the Mridangom ta ta thai thai ta ta thai thai ta ta thai thai

tears and laughter like diamonds and pearls in his crown swing to and fro good and evil follow in his steps being and nothingness dance in his wake ta ta thai thai ta ta thai thai ta ta thai thai oh what joy what joy what joy night and day freedom and bondage dance together in ecstasy I follow the wave of dance ta ta thai thai ta ta thai thai ta ta thai thai (19) Our tryst, my love is on this stormy night even the sky cries in despair I can not close my eyes I can not sleep I open my door again and again Over and over I look at the darkness outside there is nothing anywhere... which path will you take to come to me my love? ---- Perhaps far away by a river on the edge of some dense forest through the depth of darkness you are trying to find your way Oh love of my life, the friend of my soul. (20) you walk among the poorest of the poor you live among the lowest of the low your place is after everyone else's you sit there among the lowliest among those who have nothing when I offer my greetings they stop long before reaching you my greetings do not descend so far below where you are behind everyone

among the lowliest among those who have nothing pride can not reach where you wander dressed in rags among those who have nothing I go to those who have wealth and power hoping to sea you there but you live among those who are deserted by the others my heart can not reach so far down under everyone among those who have nothing in this world.