ONCE YOU HAD lent to my eyes a generous portion from your
limitless store of light; now at the day's end you have
come to reclaim it, my master, and I know for certain that I must make good my debt
But why cast shadow before my evening lamp? I am but a guest for
a few days in this world that has come of your light, but if out of its abundance a few fragments of that light are left behind, let them remain in careless neglect at the last trace of your chariot.
Let me glean from that dust some scattered lights and shadows,
some gleam of coloured illusion with which to build my own little world as a slight remnant of your debt, not worth gathering for good.

আমায়           ভুলতে দিতে নাইকো তোমার ভয়।
আমার           ভোলার আছে অন্ত, তোমার
                                       প্রেমের তো নাই ক্ষয়।
     দূরে গিয়ে বাড়াই যে ঘুর,
     সে দূর শুধু আমারি দূর--
                 তোমার কাছে দূর কভু দূর নয়।
আমার           প্রাণের কুঁড়ি পাপড়ি নাহি খোলে,
তোমার          বসন্তবায় নাই কি গো তাই ব'লে?
    এই খেলাতে আমার সনে
    হার মানো যে ক্ষণে ক্ষণে,
                   হারের মাঝে আছে তোমার জয়।

IT WAS GROWING dark when I asked her, 'What strange land have I come to?'
        She only lowered her eyes, and the water gurgled in thethroat of her jar, as she walked away.
        The trees hang vaguely over the bank, and the land appears as though it already belonged to the past.
        The water is dumb, the bamboos are darkly still, a wristlet tinkles against the water-jar from down the lane.
Row no more, but fasten the boat to this tree,-for I love the look of this land.
        The evening star goes down behind the temple dome, and the pallor of the marble landing haunts the dark water.
        Belated wayfarers sigh; for light from hidden windows is splintered into the darkness by intervening wayside trees and bushes. Still that wristlet tinkles against the water-jar, and retreating steps rustle from down the lane littered with leaves.
        The night deepens, the palace towers loom spectre-like, and the town hums wearily.
        Row no more, but fasten the boat to a tree.
Let me seek rest in this strange land, dimly lying under the stars, where darkness tingles with the tinkle of a wristlet knocking against a water-jar.