The Last Poem
The Last Poem (Sesher Kobita)
By Rabindranath Tagore
Translated by Snehendu Kar
Do you hear the roaring march
of the eternal Time?
His speeding chariot is causing shivers
In the heart of this universe.
You can hear the screaming stars
Crushed under its wheels
In dark somber nights.
Dear friend, that racing time
has trapped me in his net
and lifted me on his chariot
On a fearless journey- far away from you.
It seems I have lived a thousand deaths
And have arrived at the peak
Of the tallest mountain
On a bright new dawn.
The blasting gust on the chariot
has blown away my identity.
Now there is no way for my return.
If we happen to meet me again
You’ll not see someone you’ve known
Oh, my dear friend, farewell.
Please do not grieve for me.
I have my Karma and my destiny
My cup is not yet empty,
I’ve taken a vow not to let it be empty.
If someone, somewhere, waits for me
with a keen expectation,
She’ll make me worthy of existence.
She- who gathers a basket
Of fragrant queen-of-nights
On a full-moon night,
And brings a welcome garland
on a dark moonless night,
She-who accepts me
With all my merits and limits,
I wish to offer myself
in her silent meditation.
The gifts I gave are yours forever.
From time to time your lonely heart
May quench its thirst
From the memories we made
And the dreams we’ve shared.
Oh, my dear peerless friend
The gifts I offered you,
were the fruits of the gifts
I’ve received from you.
The more you have taken from me,
the more you have filled me
with deeper gratitude.
Oh, my dearest friend, farewell.
© Copyright Translation by Snehendu B. Kar
(The Last Poem 1030)
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