{"id":2273,"date":"2013-07-13T01:40:32","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:40:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=2273"},"modified":"2013-12-02T01:33:39","modified_gmt":"2013-12-02T09:33:39","slug":"32-slected-poems-of-nidhou-vol-05-translations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/03-cwsa\/05-translations\/32-slected-poems-of-nidhou-vol-05-translations","title":{"rendered":"-32_Selected Poems of Nidhou.html"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\n\n
\n <\/td>\n\n

\n
\nSelected Poems of Nidhou<\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n1<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nEyes of the hind, you are my jailors, sweetest;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy heart with the hind’s frightened motion fleetest<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn terror strange would flee,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut find no issue, sweet; for thy quick smiling,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThy tresses like a net with threads beguiling<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDetain it utterly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nI am afraid of thy great eyes and well-like,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI am afraid of thy small ears and shell-like,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd everything in thee.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nComfort my fainting heart with soft assurance<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd soon it will grow tame and love its durance,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHearing such melody.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n2<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nLine not with these dark rings thy bright eyes ever!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSuch keen shafts are enough to slay unaided;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo tip the barbs with venom why endeavour?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO then no heart could live thy glance invaded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nWhy any live wouldst thou have explanation?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThree powers have thine eyes of grievous passion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe first is poison making them death’s portal,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe second wine of strong intoxication;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe third is nectar that makes gods immortal.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

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\n

\n

<\/p>\n

3<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\nIf the heart’s hope were never satisfied,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThen no man could for long his life retain.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe cloud to which the impatient rain-lark cried<\/span><\/p>\n

\nContents at last the suffering bird with rain<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd bids him not to thirst for ever.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nAnd see the lamp with the moth flitting near it;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA little forward and he swells the fire.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut he invites that end and does not fear it,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGladly he burns himself at love’s desire.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn bliss to die is his endeavour.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n4<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nWhat else have I to give thee? I have yielded<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy heart at thy discretion,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd is there than the heart a closer-shielded<\/span><\/p>\n

\nReluctant sweet possession?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDear, if thou know of such as yet ungiven,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI will not grudge but yielding think it heaven.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n
\n5<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nMy eyes are lost in thine as in great rivers,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy soul is in their depths of beauty drowned.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLove in thine eyes three sacred streams delivers, <\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhose waves with crests of rushing speed are crowned.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

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\n

\nThe wind of love has stirred thy fluttering lashes,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe tide of love heaves in thy sweet emotion;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy beating heart feels as it seaward washes<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBillows of passion rush a stormy ocean.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n
\n6<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nSweet, gaze not always on thine own face in the mirror,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLest looking so on thine own wondrous beauty,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThou lose the habit of thy queenly duty<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd thy poor subject quite forget.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWell may I fear such fatal error,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSince they who always on their own wealth look,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGrow misers and to spend it cannot brook,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLest thou like these grow miser of thy beauty, sweet.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n
\n7<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nWhy gazing in the glass I stand nor move<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAs rapt in bliss, hast thou not then divined?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBecause thy home is in my eyes, dear love<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd gazing there I gaze on thee enshrined.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd therefore must my face seen in the glass<\/span><\/p>\n

\nIn beauty my own former face surpass.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThine own eyes, sweet suspecter, long have known<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI love my beauty for their sake alone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

Page \u2013 437<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

<\/p>\n

8<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\nHe whom I woo makes with me no abiding;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHe whom I shun parts not for all my chiding.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAbsence I quite contemn; he loves nor loves me;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nUnion my life is; ever he deceives me.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n
\n9<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nCease, clouds of autumn, cease to roll;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nYour thunders slay a poor girl’s soul.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLove of my heart, in distant lands thou roamest.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe musical rich sound of rain<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut touching me, ah, turns to pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLove of my heart, in distant lands thou roamest.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe pleasant daylight brings delay<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOf added infelicity<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBecause of one face far away,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGrief of heart where joy should be.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLove of my heart, in distant lands thou roamest.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe glorious lightning as it burns<\/span><\/p>\n

\nGoes shuddering through my body faint<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd my sad eyes remembrance turns<\/span><\/p>\n

\nInto moist fountains of complaint.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLove of my heart, in distant lands thou roamest.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nCease, clouds of autumn, cease to roll;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nYour thunders slay a poor girl’s soul.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLove of my heart, in distant lands thou roamest.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

Page \u2013 438<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n
\n10<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nThe Spring is here, sweet friend, the Spring is here<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd all his captains brings to make me moan.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHow many dreadful armed things appear<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOne by one.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nThe cuckoo of his black bands captain is,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe full moon marshals his white companies.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nThe nectared moon grows poisonous as a snake;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nA venomed arrow is the murmuring bee.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe cuckoo’s cunning note my heart doth break<\/span><\/p>\n

\nUtterly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n
\n11<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nEre I had taken half my will of joy,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhy hast thou, Night, with cruel swiftness ceased?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo slay a woman’s heart with sad annoy,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO ruddy Dawn, thou openest in the east.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe whispering world begins in dawn’s red shining,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNor will Night stay one hour for lovers’ pining.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nEre love is done, must Dawn our love discover<\/i>?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nAh why should lovers’ blissful meeting<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMix so soon with parting’s sorrow?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOn happy night come heavy morrow?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNight will not stay for love’s entreating.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\nEre love was done, ah me! the night was over.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

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\n

\n

<\/p>\n

12<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\nNay, though thy absence was a tardy fire,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nYet in such meeting is a worse derision;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFor never yet the passionate eyes’ desire<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDrew comfort from such momentary vision.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWho ever heard of great heats soon expended,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHuge fire with a little burning ended?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n
\n13<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nI said in anger, “When next time he prays,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI will be sullen and repulse his charms.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAh me! but when I saw my lover’s face,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI quite forgot and rushed into his arms.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nMine eyes said, “We will joy in him no longer;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nVainly let him entreat nor pardon crave.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHe came, nor pardon asked; my bonds grew stronger,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI am become more helplessly his slave.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n
\n14<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nAh sweet, thou hast not understood my love, \u2014<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThis is my grief, thou hast not understood.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nElse would my heart’s pain thy compassion move,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWho in my heart persistest like heart’s blood.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhen I am dead, then wilt thou pity prove<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd with thy sorrow on deaf ears intrude?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThis is my grief, thou hast not understood.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

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\n

\n15<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nHow much thou didst entreat! with what sweet wooing<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThou hast bewitched my soul to love thee!<\/span><\/p>\n

\nNow when I’ve loved thee to my own undoing,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nO marvel! all my piteous tears and suing<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTo bless me with thy presence cannot move thee.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nWould I, if I had known ere all was over,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHave given my heart for thy sole pleasure?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSo sweet thy words, I fell in love with loving<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd gave my heart, the very roots removing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHow could I know that thy love had a measure?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n
\n16<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nHow could I know that he was waiting only<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFor an excuse to leave me?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI was so sure he loved me, not one lonely<\/span><\/p>\n

\nSuspicion came to grieve me.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nBut now a small offence his pretext making<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHe has buried Love and left me;<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBlithely has gone, his whole will of me taking,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHaving of bliss bereft me.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nToo well he knows my grief of heart, not caring<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTho’ it break through his disdain.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI sit forsaken, all my beauty wearing<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut as a crown of pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

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Page \u2013 441<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

<\/p>\n

17<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\nInto the hollow of whose hand my heart<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI gave once, surely thinking him my lover,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHow shall I now forget him? by what art<\/span><\/p>\n

\nMy captive soul recover?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nI took Love’s graver up and slow portrayed<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHis beauty on my soul with lingering care.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHow shall the etching from its background fade,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBurnt in so deeply there?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n“He has forgotten thee, forget him thou;”<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAll say to me, “a vain thing is regret.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAh yes, that day when death is on my brow,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nI shall indeed forget.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n
\n18<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nHast thou remembered me at last, my own<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAnd therefore come after so many days?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWhen man has once drained love and elsewhere flown,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDoes he return to the forgotten face?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nTherefore I think by error thou hast come,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nOr else a passing pity led thee home.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

Page \u2013 442<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n
\n19<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nI did not dream, O love, that I<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWould ever have thee back again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThe sunflower drooping hopelessly<\/span><\/p>\n

\nExpects no sun to end her pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nI did not dream my lord would show<\/span><\/p>\n

\nFavour to his poor slave-girl more,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nThat I should mix my eyes as now<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith the dear eyes I panted for.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nI did not dream my huge desire<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWould be filled full and grief be over,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nBut burning in love’s bitter fire<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWith hopeless longing for my lover,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nOne thought alone possessed thy slave,<\/span><\/p>\n

\n“Lord of my life, where art thou gone?<\/span><\/p>\n

\nWilt thou not come that life to save?”<\/span><\/p>\n

\nDumbly this thought and this alone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n20<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\nIn true sweet love what more than utter bliss is,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nHe only knows who is himself true lover.<\/span><\/p>\n

\nAs moon-bird seeks the moon, she seeks his kisses,<\/span><\/p>\n

\nLiberal of nectar he yearns down above her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

\n

<\/p>\n

Page \u2013 443<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Selected Poems of Nidhou   1   Eyes of the hind, you are my jailors, sweetest; My heart with the hind’s frightened motion fleetest…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-05-translations","wpcat-48-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2273"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2273\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9795,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2273\/revisions\/9795"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}