THE BOATMAN is out crossing the wild sea at night.
The mast is aching because of its full sails filled with the violent wind.
Stung with the night's fang the sky falls upon the sea, poisoned with black fear.
The waves dash their heads against the dark unseen, and the Boatman is out crossing the wild sea.
The Boatman is out, I know not for what tryst, startling the night with the sudden white of his sails.
I know not at what shore, at last, he lands to reach the silent courtyard where the lamp is burning and to find her who sits in the dust and waits.
What is the quest that makes his boat care not for storm nor darkness?
Is it heavy with gems and pearls?
Ah, no, the Boatman brings with him no treasure, but only a white rose in his hand and a song on his lips.
It is for her who watches alone at night with her lamp burning.
She dwells in the wayside hut.
Her loose hair flies in the wind and hides her eyes.
The storm shrieks through her broken doors, the light flickers in her earthen lamp flinging shadows on the walls.
Through the howl of the winds she hears him call her name, she whose name is unknown.
It is long since the Boatman sailed.
It will be long before the day breaks and he knocks at the door.
The drums will not be beaten and none will know.
Only light shall fill the house, blessed shall be the dust, and the heart glad.
All doubts shall vanish in silence when the Boatman comes to the shore.

ওগো আমার হৃদয়বাসী,
আজ কেন নাই তোমার হাসি।
      সন্ধ্যা হল কালো মেঘে,
      চাঁদের চোখে আঁধার লেগে--
              বাজল না আজ প্রাণের বাঁশি।
রেখেছি এই প্রদীপ মেজে,
জ্বালিয়ে দিলেই জ্বলবে সে যে।
      একটুকু মন দিলেই তবে
      তোমার মালা গাঁথা হবে,
              তোলা আছে ফুলের রাশি।

I AM SMALL because I am a little child. I shall be big when I am as old as my father is.
My teacher will come and say, 'It is late, bring your slate and your books.'
I shall tell him, 'Do you not know I am as big as father? And I must not have lessons any more.'
My master will wonder and say, 'He can leave his books if he likes, for he is grown up.'
I shall dress myself and walk to the fair where the crowd is thick.
My uncle will come rushing up to me and say, 'You will get lost, my boy; let me carry you.'
I shall answer, 'Can't you see, uncle, I am as big as father. I must go to the fair alone.'
Uncle will say, 'Yes, he can go wherever he likes, for he is grown up.'
Mother will come from her bath when I am giving money to my nurse, for I shall know how to open the box with my key.
Mother will say, 'What are you about, naughty child?'
I shall tell her, 'Mother, don't you know, I am as big as father, and I must give silver to my nurse.'
Mother will say to herself, 'He can give money to whom he likes, for he is grown up.'
In the holiday time in October father will come home and, thinking that I am still a baby, will bring for me from the town little shoes and small silken frocks.
I shall say, 'Father, give them to my dada,' for I am as big as you are.'
Father will think and say, 'He can buy his own clothes if he likes, for he is grown up.'