The Blessed One by Tagore translated by Ranu
The Blessed One Rabindranath Tagore
Rare is your dwelling with the garden in the middle,
O Blessed one, your work goes on without any trouble.
English: Rabindranath Tagore Русский: Рабиндранат Тагор (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The cuckoo sings sweetly perched from the tree,
the baby in the house makes delightful sounds with glee.
And I have reserved my very last song only for thee.
Morning makes its visit with baskets of flowers,
evening shows itself from the tower.
Inside your house a soft music is playing,
the bracelets have joined in with jovial singing.
And my last best song I present you as my offering.
The fair young maidens leave their offering on your feet,
the bright young ladies bring garlands for you ,they want to meet.
Your fate is lined with a bundle of ray,
your heart is visible like a gorgeous sunny day.
I bring my last best song for you today.
Winter,spring, age, or youth ,does not worry you,
it does not take away your throne from you.
the lamp doesn’t cease burning, neither do you,
your unwavering radiance is surrounded all over you.
My last best song is reserved for you.
You showed yourself like a flowing river,
you flow towards the ocean without stopping forever.
The story of your motion is read in a house,
I’m sure no one is moving,not even a mouse.
My last best song is reserved only for your house.
Your countenance spells peace to all the travellers,
your love and affection unites them together.
In my writing shelter the restless breeze
is blowing flowers and buds off the trees__
And I want to offer my last song ,if I may please.
I have just sat at a cafe with a longtime, artist friend and can’t help again to see Tagore as a painter! (Well he painted to, did he not?)
Thank you for the deceptively simple structure which beautifully framed (even with traditional English rhyming patterns) such a profound portrait of grace.
This part — as well as the whole — reminded me of a particular woman of Proverbs in the Bible’s Old Testament which begin (What worthy goals for all women who are able!)
“Who can find a virtuous woman”…and lists similar traits…
I also am thinking of my own mother today — who is in the hospital — this is a portrait of her as well!
“Your fate is lined with a bundle of ray,
your heart is visible like a gorgeous sunny day.
I bring my last best song for you today.
Winter,spring, age, or youth ,does not worry you,
it does not take away your throne from you.
the lamp doesn’t cease burning, neither do you,
your unwavering radiance is surrounded all over you.”
(PS I just picked up the book you recommended at the bookstore:
“Proof of Heaven” and do so look forward to reading it right away!)
Thank you for visiting.I worked on this one for a while.Every time I read it,I did not like it.After trashing it a few times,I decided to try to rhyme it.
It is easier to do it in Bengali, English wasn’t that easy.It could be my Mother tongue,there are so many ways to write it.
Tagore however is a master,well I’ve tried and decided to publish it.
You succeeded beautifully! I like your variety of form…for this one…the rhyme is just right…
I have made comments new going back to “An auspicious…” in December…
Thank you.
This is a very good experiment that has added creativity to a fine translation, and would make the translations that more interesting.
Thank you Akhtar Bhai.I worked on this one for a while.When the usual translation did not satisfy me,I thought of rhyming it.
To me it sounded better.This is the first one,I am thinking maybe this can be more interesting,it also depends on the poems.I got
lucky with this one,because of the repetition of the last line,’My last best song is dedicated for you.’In Bengali Tagore did not change
the words,I had to.
Regards,
Chaman
Dear Ranu,
Thank you very much for this.
I love the vivid language, such as:
“Your fate is lined with a bundle of ray,
your heart is visible like a gorgeous sunny day.”
and…
“Your fate is lined with a bundle of ray,
your heart is visible like a gorgeous sunny day.”
Very lovely…
All good wishes,
robert
I tried to rhyme it this time.Thanks for your lovely comment.
Ranu