Birth Discussion by Tagore Translation by Ranu

November 18, 2012

This is another poem of Tagore,in this he talks to his mother about “Birth.”

The little boy calls his Mom and asks, ‘where did I come from

where did you pick me up from?

Hearing this Mom in a crying and laughing tone      hugged the boy in her chest_

‘you were a wish in my mind.’

You were in my imagination when I played with my doll, in my early morning prayer

I have taken you apart and put you together.

You were with my god    on my prayer throne,

I was thinking of you while I was praying to god.

‘In all my wish forever,in all of my love,

in my mother’s and grandmother’s heart,

in our old home    on my Devi’s lap

I don’t know how long you were hiding there.

In my youth when everything in me unfolded

you were mixed like a fragrance inside me,

you were present in my young body

giving away your gentle loveliness.

‘You are the precious love of all the gods    you are forever old,

you are as old as the morning light.

Your entry into the world is a dream that brings a flow of happiness

you have come to my heart as a new pleasure.

‘After seeing you suddenly    I didn’t understand your mystery___

you belonged to everyone, how did you become mine!

From that body to mine   you became Mom’s baby

with a beautiful smile you showed up on this earth.

‘I am afraid to lose you this is why  I want to hold on to you in my chest,

if you move away from me slightly I begin to cry____

I don’t know what kind of affection has trapped me, to me you are my worldly treasure I want to hold on to you

and  hide you in my fragile arms.’

Rabindranath Tagore with wife Mrinalini Devi from a Pirali Brahmin clan which some Tagores regularly married into (Photo credit: Wikipedia)