The Gardener

The Gardener  XXVIII- Rabindranath Tagore

"Your questioning eyes are sad. They

seek to know my meaning as the moon

would fathom the sea.

I have bared my life before your

eyes from end to end, with nothing

hidden or held back. That is why you

know me not.

If it were only a gem, I could break

it into a hundred pieces and string

them into a chain to put on your neck.

If it were only a flower, round and

small and sweet, I could pluck it from

its stem to set it in your hair.

But it is a heart, my beloved.

Where are its shores and its bottom?

You know not the limits of this

kingdom, still you are its queen.

If it were only a moment of pleasure

it would flower in an easy smile, and

you could see it and read it in a

moment.

If it were merely a pain it would

melt in limpid tears, reflecting its

inmost secret without a word.

But it is love, my beloved.

Its pleasure and pain are boundless,

and endless its wants and wealth.

It is as near to you as your life, but

you can never wholly know it.

                                 Listen to Kandale Tumi More on sitar

   The Nobel Prize winner and polymath , Rabindrabath Tagaore, wrote his poetry in the Bengali language of his native India. He also wrote songs like "Kindale Tumi More" ( my favorite from the collection above). The translation of "The Gardener", a volume of love poetry, is by the author. 
   "Love has no limits," he tells his lover and queen. Love is not merely a  gem that can be cut into pieces and strung into a necklace. Nor is it just a flower. He tells his beloved that his love is boundless and endless in its wants and wealth.
   Our life is  a gift and love is another gift. With these two gifts we need nothing more in this world for happiness.  But love is also a mystery and "you can never wholly know it".