A Woman’s Gift

A Woman’s Gift

One morning hour, in a fine bower,

A little girl blind.

On hands held outward, a garland offered,

Of many flowers twined.

The garland pretty, with blossoms dainty,

With pride I wore.

And hugged the child, tearful eyed,

Moved to the core.

To her I say, “As night, your day”,

Though dark they be!

Your woven treasure, its value beyond measure,

This gift from thee!

As a bloom, sightless, you saw it not, alas,

O little girl blind.

Of godly allure, this garland pure,

Of many flowers twined.”

Translated by: Chinmoy Bhattacharjee

Original: “Naarir Daan” by Rabindranath Tagore

Narir Daan (নারীর দান) is a short poem from Tagore’s Chitra (চিত্রা) collection. True to the essence of all his compositions in this assemblage, in this poem as well, a spiritual, devotional texture is unmistakeable. Tagore had offered all the poems in this collection as his worship of the varied to the Gods of variations. In this poem, his reverence is evoked to the women of our society – one who gives life, one who nurtures life. And never once even realising that it is because of her that we live. Much like the proverbial blind girl, who weaves a garland most exotic, fit for the gods – without once realising what she has created. Without once savouring its beauty, without once realising its worth. For she is like the flower – the giver of fragrance, the essence of beauty without ever enjoying the joys herself!

Like always, the original is included below for those who are conversant with the Bengali script.

একদা প্রাতে কুঞ্জতলে

অন্ধ বালিকা

পত্রপুটে আনিয়া দিল

পুষ্পমালিকা।

কণ্ঠে পরি অশ্রুজল

ভরিল নয়নে;

বক্ষে লয়ে চুমিনু তার

স্নিগ্ধ বয়নে।

কহিনু তারে "অন্ধকারে

দাঁড়ায়ে রমণী

কী ধন তুমি করিছ দান

না জান আপনি।

পুষ্পসম অন্ধ তুমি

অন্ধ বালিকা,

দেখ নি নিজে মোহন কী যে

তোমার মালিকা।'