Farewell By R.Tagore__ translated by Ranu

December 4, 2012

English: Pooja room in an Indian home (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am leaving my dear Mom I am leaving.

Early in the morning when you notice your empty lap and call Khoka

I will say,’that Khoka is not here’.

My dear mother, I am leaving.

I will mix with the air I will go ,Mother I will ride on your chest__

You cannot catch me with your hand.

I will be a wave in the water dear mother____no one will know me,

During the bath I will play with you.

When droplets of rain fall from the cloud you will think of me at night in your bed,

I will sing the song of drip drop in the forest.

From the clouds I will flash a light into your window to see you,

will you remember my laughter?

If you stay up late at night for Khoka my dear mother

I will come in the guise of a star and tell you ‘sleep’.

After you fall asleep  I will enter your room as the moonlight,

I will leave a kiss in your eyes.

I will become a dream and I will come to see  mother,

I will go in the middle of your sleep.

You will wake up in false hope   you will feel the side of your bed,

who knows where I will vanish.

At the time of Pooja celebration   the boys will roam around and play in the courtyard,

tell them ‘Khoka is not in the house’.

Then I will become the  tune of the flute and move around in the sky.

I will come back with you and you will feel my presence in all your work.

When auntie comes with the clothes for Pooja  and she asks you

‘where did your Khoka go’,

tell her ‘Khoka , he cannot be lost___he is here, a star in my eyes,

he is united with me on my chest and on my lap’.