{"id":3257,"date":"2013-07-13T01:47:00","date_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/?p=3257"},"modified":"2013-07-13T01:47:00","modified_gmt":"2013-07-13T01:47:00","slug":"03-selected-poems-of-hour-thakur-vol-poems-from-bengali","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/01-works-of-sri-aurobindo\/02-other-editions\/poems-from-bengali\/03-selected-poems-of-hour-thakur-vol-poems-from-bengali","title":{"rendered":"-03_Selected Poems of Hour Thakur.htm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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\nSelected Poems<\/font><\/i> <\/font><\/b>\n<\/p>\n

\n
\nof<\/font><\/i> <\/font><\/b>\n<\/p>\n

\nHORU THAKUR <\/font><\/b>\n<\/p>\n

\n

\n
\n\n\n
\n

\n<\/td>\n

\n

\nI
\n<\/b>\n<\/p>\n

\n[ The soul beset by God wishes to surrender itself]<\/i>\n<\/p>\n

WHO is this with smeared limbs\n\t<\/p>\n

Of sandal wreathed with forest blossom.\n\t<\/p>\n

For a beauty in him gleams\n\t<\/p>\n

Earth bears not on her mortal bosom.\n\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

He his hair with bloom has crowned,\n\t<\/p>\n

And many bees come murmuring, swarming.\n\t<\/p>\n

Who is he that with sweet sound\n\t<\/p>\n

Arrests our feet, our hearts alarming?\n\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daily came I to the river.\n\t<\/p>\n

Daily passed these boughs of blessing,\n\t<\/p>\n

But beneath their shadow never\n\t<\/p>\n

Saw such beauty heart-caressing.\n\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Like a cloud yet moist with rain\n\t<\/p>\n

His hue is, robe of masquerader.\n\t<\/p>\n

Ah, a girl’s soul out to win\n\t<\/p>\n

Outposts here what amorous raider?\n\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ankle over ankle lays\n\t<\/p>\n

And moonbeams from his feet make glamour;\n\t<\/p>\n

When he moves, at every pace\n\t<\/p>\n

His body’s sweets Love’s self enam our.\n\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A strange wish usurps my mind;\n\t<\/p>\n

My youth, my beauty, ah, life even\n\t<\/p>\n

At his feet if I resigned\n\t<\/p>\n

Were not that rich surrender heaven.\n\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n\n\n
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\n\t\t\t\tII <\/b><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t[The soul catching a reflection of God’s face in the river
\n\t\t\t\tof worlds, is enchanted with its beauty ]<\/i> <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\tLOLITA, say <\/p>\n

What is this strange, sweet thing I watch today.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Fixed lightning in the water’s quiet dreaming?\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lolita, none\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Disturb a single wave here, even one!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Great is her sin who blots the vision gleaming.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lolita, see\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

What glimmers in the wave so wondrously?\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Of Crishna’s limbs it has each passionate motion.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lolita, then\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

To lure my soul comes that dark rose of men\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

In a shadow’s form, and witch with strange emotion?\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lolita, daily\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

To bring sweet water home we troop here gaily.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

But never yet saw in the waves such beauty.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lolita, tell me\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Why do so many strange sweet thoughts assail me,\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

As moon-bloom petals to the moon pay duty?\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lolita, may\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

This be the moon eclipsed that fain would stay\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

In the clear water being from heaven effaced?\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lolita, no,\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

The moon is to the lotus bright a foe;\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

But this\u2014my heart leaps forward to embrace it.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

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\nIII<\/b>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t[The same]<\/i> <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LOOK, Lolita, the stream one loves so\n\t<\/p>\n

And water brings each day!\n\t<\/p>\n

But what is this strange light that moves so,\n\t<\/p>\n

In Jamouna today?\n\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What is it shining, heaving, glimmering,\n\t<\/p>\n

Is it a flower or face\n\t<\/p>\n

Thus shimmering with the water’s shimmering\n\t<\/p>\n

And swaying as it sways?\n\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Is it a lotus darkly blooming\n\t<\/p>\n

In Jamouna’s clear stream?\n\t<\/p>\n

What else the depths opaque illuming\n\t<\/p>\n

Could with such beauty claim?\n\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Is it his shadow whom dark-burning\n\t<\/p>\n

In sudden bloom we see\n\t<\/p>\n

When with our brimming jars returning\n\t<\/p>\n

We pass the tamal-tree?\n\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Is there in upper heavens or under\n\t<\/p>\n

A moon that’s dark of hue?\n\t<\/p>\n

By daylight does that moon of wonder\n\t<\/p>\n

Its mystic dawn renew?\n\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

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\nIV<\/b>\n<\/p>\n

\n[The soul recognises the Eternal for whom it has failed <\/i>\n<\/p>\n

\nin its earthly conventional duties and incurred the <\/i>\n<\/p>\n

\ncensure of the world]<\/i>\n<\/p>\n

I KNOW him by the eyes all hearts that ravish,\n\t<\/p>\n

For who is there beside him?\n\t<\/p>\n

O honey grace of amorous sweetness lavish!\n\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\tI know him by his dark compelling beauty,\n\t<\/p>\n

Once only having spied him\n\t<\/p>\n

For him I stained my honour, scorned my duty.\n\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I know him by his feet of moonbeam brightness,\n\t<\/p>\n

Because for their sake purely\n\t<\/p>\n

I live and move, my name is taxed with lightness.\n\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ah now I know him surely.\n\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

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\nV<\/b>\n<\/p>\n

\n[The soul finds that the Eternal is attracted to other than <\/i>\n<\/p>\n

\nitself and grows jealous]<\/i>\n<\/p>\n

O
\n\t<\/i>FONDLY hast thou loved, thyself deceiving,\n<\/p>\n

But he thou lovest truth nor kindness keeps;\n\t<\/p>\n

His tryst thou servest, disappointed, grieving,\u2014\n\t<\/p>\n

He on another’s lovelier bosom sleeps.\n\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With Chundra’s sweets he honeys out the hours.\n\t<\/p>\n

If thou believe not, conic and thou wilt find him\n\t<\/p>\n

In night’s pale close upon a bed of flowers,\n\t<\/p>\n

Thy Shyama with those alien arms to bind him.\n\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For I have seen her languid swooning charms\n\t<\/p>\n

And I have seen his burning lovely youth,\n\t<\/p>\n

Bound breast to breast with close entwining arms\n\t<\/p>\n

And mouth upon inseparable mouth.\n\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

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\nVI<\/b>\n<\/p>\n

\n[The Eternal departing from the soul to His kingdom of <\/i>\n<\/p>\n

\naction and its duties, the latter bemoans its loneliness]<\/i>\n<\/p>\n

WHAT are these wheels whose sudden thunder "\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Alarms the ear with ominous noise?\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Who brought this chariot to tread under\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Gocool, our Paradise?\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Watching the wheels our hearts are rent asunder.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Alas! and why is Crishna standing\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

With Ocroor in the moving car?\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

To Mothura is he then wending,\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

To Mothura afar,\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

The anguish in our eyes not understanding.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What fault, what fault in Radha finding\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Hast thou forsaken her who loved thee;\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Her tears upon thy feet not minding?\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Once surely they had moved thee!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

O Radha’s Lord, what fault in Radha finding?\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But Shyama, dost thou recollect not,\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

That we have left all for thy sake?\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Of other thought, of other love we recked not,\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Labouring thy love to wake.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Thy love’s the only thought our minds reject not.\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hast thou forgot how we came running\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

At midnight when the moon was full,\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Called by thy flute’s enamoured crooning,\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Musician beautiful,\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Shame and reproach for thy sake never shunning?\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

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To please thee was our sole endeavour,\n\t<\/p>\n

To love thee was our sole delight;\n\t<\/p>\n

This was our sin; for this, O lover,\n\t<\/p>\n

Dost thou desert us quite?\n\t<\/p>\n

Is it therefore thou forsakest us for ever?\n\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ah why should I forbid thee so?\n\t<\/p>\n

To Mothura let the wheels move thee,\n\t<\/p>\n

To Mothura if thy heart go,\n\t<\/p>\n

For the sad souls that love thee,\n\t<\/p>\n

That thou art happy is enough to know.\n\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But O with laughing face ha If-willing.\n\t<\/p>\n

With eyes that half a glance bestow\n\t<\/p>\n

Once only our sad eyes beguiling\n\t<\/p>\n

Look backward ere thou go,\n\t<\/p>\n

On Braja’s neat-herdess once only smiling.\n\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

One last look all our life through burning,\n\t<\/p>\n

One last look of our dear delight\n\t<\/p>\n

And then to watch the great wheels turning\n\t<\/p>\n

Until they pass from sight.\n\t<\/p>\n

Hopeless to see those well-loved feet returning.\n\t<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

All riches that we had, alone\n\t<\/p>\n

Thou wast, therefore forlorn we languish;\n\t<\/p>\n

From empty breasts we make our moan,\n\t<\/p>\n

Our souls with the last anguish\n\t<\/p>\n

Smiting in careless beauty thou art gone!\n\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

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\nVII<\/b>\n<\/p>\n

\n[The soul longs for reunion with God, without whom the sweetness of love and life are vain]<\/i>\n<\/p>\n

ALL day and night in lonely anguish wasting\n\t<\/p>\n

The heart’s wish to the lips unceasing comes,\u2014\n\t<\/p>\n

"O that
\n\tI had a bird’s wings to go hasting <\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tWhere <\/span>that dark wander roams!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\tI should behold the flute on loved lips resting.”<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\tWhere shall I find him, joy in his sweet kisses?\n<\/p>\n

How shall
\n\t<\/span>I hope my love’s feet to embrace?\n\t<\/p>\n

O void is home and vain affection’s bliss is\n\t<\/p>\n

Without the one loved face,\n\t<\/p>\n

Crishna who has nor home nor kindred misses.\n\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

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\nPage-59<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Selected Poems of HORU THAKUR I [ The soul beset by God wishes to surrender itself] WHO is this with smeared limbs Of sandal wreathed…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[68],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-poems-from-bengali","wpcat-68-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3257","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=3257"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3257\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worksofthemotherandsriaurobindo.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}