Unyielding

When I called you in your garden

Mango blooms were rich in fragrance -

Why did you remain so distant,

Keep your doors so tightly fastened?

Blossoms grew to ripe fruit-clusters -

Your rejected my cuppded handfuls,

Closed your eyes to perfectness.

In the fierce harsh storms of Baisakh,

Golden ripened fruit fell tumbling.

'Dust, I said, 'defiles such offerings:

Let your hands be heaven to them.'

Still you showed no friendliness.

Lampless were your doors at evening,

Pitch-black as I played my vina.

How the starlight twanged my heartstrings!

How I set my vina dancing!

You showed no responsiveness.

Sad birds twittered sleeplessly,

Calling, calling lost companions.

Gone the right time for our union -

Low the moon while still you brooded,

Sunk in lonely pensiveness.

Who can understand another!

Heart cannot restrain its passion.

I had hoped that some remaining

Tear-soaked memories would sway you,

Stir your feet to lightsomeness.

Moon fell at the feet of morning,

Loosened from the night's fading necklace.

While you slept, O did my Vina

Lull you with its heartache? Did you

Dream at least of happiness?