Love

The Gardener 35: Lest I should know you too easily

by Rabindranath Tagore 1861–1941

Translated by Rabindranath Tagore (1915) · From The Gardener (1915)

Love

Lest I should know you too easily, you play with me.
You blind me with flashes of laughter to hide your tears.
I know, I know your art.
You never say the word you would.

Lest I should not prize you, you elude me in a thousand ways.
Lest I should confuse you with the crowd, you stand aside.
I know, I know your art,
You never walk the path you would.

Your claim is more than that of others, that is why you are silent.
With playful carelessness you avoid my gifts.
I know, I know your art,
You never will take what you would.

MLA

Tagore, Rabindranath. “The Gardener 35: Lest I should know you too easily.” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/tagore/137/.

Chicago

Tagore, Rabindranath. “The Gardener 35: Lest I should know you too easily.” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/tagore/137/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Rabindranath Tagore