IT IS LITTLE that remains now, the rest was spent in one careless summer. It is just enough to put in a song and sing to you; to weave in a flower- chain gently clasping your wrist; to hang in your ear like a round pink pearl, like a blushing whisper; to risk in a game one evening and utterly lose. My boat is a frail small thing, not fit for crossing wild waves in the rain. If you but lightly step on it I shall gently row you by the shelter of the shore, where the dark water in ripples are like a dream-ruffled sleep; where the dove's cooing from the drooping branches makes the noon- day shadows plaintive. At the day's end, when you are tired, I shall pluck a dripping lily to put in your hair and take my leave.
I WAS WALKING along a path overgrown with grass, when suddenly I heard from some one behind, 'See if you know me?' I turned round and looked at her and said, I cannot remember your name.' She said, I am that first great Sorrow whom you met when you were young.' Her eyes looked like a morning whose dew is still in the air. I stood silent for some time till I said, 'Have you lost all the great burden of your tears?' She smiled and said nothing. I felt that her tears had had time to learn the language of smiles. 'Once you said,' she whispered, 'that you would cherish your grief for ever.' I blushed and said, 'Yes, but years have passed and I forget.' Then I took her hand in mine and said, 'But you have changed.' 'What was sorrow once has now become peace,' she said.
ওরে ভীরু তোমার হাতে নাই ভুবনের ভার। হালের কাছে মাঝি আছে, করবে তরী পার। তুফান যদি এসে থাকে তোমার কিসের দায়-- চেয়ে দেখো ঢেউয়ের খেলা, কাজ কী ভাবনায়। আসুক-নাকো গহন রাতি, হোক-না অন্ধকার-- হালের কাছে মাঝি আছে, করবে তরী পার। পশ্চিমে তুই তাকিয়ে দেখিস মেঘে আকাশ ডোবা-- আনন্দে তুই পুবের দিকে দেখ্-না তারার শোভা। সাথি যারা আছে, তারা তোমার আপন ব'লে ভাব' কি তাই রক্ষা পাবে তোমারি ওই কোলে? উঠবে রে ঝড়, দুলবে রে বুক, জাগবে হাহাকার-- হালের কাছে মাঝি আছে, করবে তরী পার।
