Suddenly she came
Flowing along the days of spring
No sooner she came she said smiling,
‘I am leaving.’
The leaves crowded around
And dancing together
They whispered into her ears,
‘No, no, my friend.’
The stars of the sky
Tell her, ‘Come near,
We want you here.’
But the leaves crowd around
And dancing together
They whisper into her ears,
‘No, no, my friend.’
Blowing from the south
Always moving by her side
The breeze is calling her,
‘Come, come, come.’
‘On the shores of the seas
Beyond the western hills
The sun is setting
The moon now full
Will wane by and by
I have no time.’
But the leaves crowd around
And dancing together
They whisper into her ears,
‘No, no, my friend.’
Translation of a famous song of spring – Madhabi hatath kotha hote elo phagoon* diner srote – by Rabindranath Tagore. Perhaps no other language in the world can boast of so many seasonal songs as were composed by Tagore. They are also unique – most of them perfectly match with the dance sequences arranged by the poet himself for the celebration of different seasons at Santiniketan which are ceremoniously observed till today as planned by the poet. They are great attractions and draw great crowds every year from far and near. Most elaborate and famous is the Basantotsab or spring festival observed on a full moon day on the occasion of the Indian festival of color called Holi.
[* Madhabi is a flower of pink color and soft sweet fragrance that blossoms abundantly in bunches during the spring. The plant is a vigorous creeper which needs almost no care for its growth. Its name is derived from the Sanskrit name of the spring season – Madhu which also means honey. Phagoon or Phalgoon is the first month of spring. Tagore composed another marvelous but untranslatable song– Ogo Shefali boner moner kamana - on another sweet-scented flower – Shefali or Shiuli which is inextricably associated with the autumn season.]
