Love

The Gardener 40: An unbelieving smile flits on your eyes

by Rabindranath Tagore 1861–1941

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

Love

An unbelieving smile flits on your eyes when I come to you to take my leave.
I have done it so often that you think I will soon return.
To tell you the truth I have the same doubt in my mind.
For the spring days come again time after time; the full moon takes leave and comes on another visit, the flowers come again and blush upon their branches year after year, and it is likely that I take my leave only to come to you again.
But keep the illusion awhile; do not send it away with ungentle haste.
When I say I leave you for all time, accept it as true, and let a mist of tears for one moment deepen the dark rim of your eyes.
Then smile as archly as you like when I come again.

MLA

Tagore, Rabindranath. “The Gardener 40: An unbelieving smile flits on your eyes.” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/tagore/142/.

Chicago

Tagore, Rabindranath. “The Gardener 40: An unbelieving smile flits on your eyes.” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/tagore/142/.

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