Love

The Gardener 59: O woman, you are not merely the handiwork

by Rabindranath Tagore 1861–1941

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

Love

O woman, you are not merely the handiwork of God, but also of men; these are ever endowing you with beauty from their hearts.
Poets are weaving for you a web with threads of golden imagery; painters are giving your form ever new immortality.
The sea gives its pearls, the mines their gold, the summer gardens their flowers to deck you, to cover you, to make you more precious.
The desire of men's hearts has shed its glory over your youth.
You are one half woman and one half dream.

MLA

Tagore, Rabindranath. “The Gardener 59: O woman, you are not merely the handiwork.” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/tagore/161/.

Chicago

Tagore, Rabindranath. “The Gardener 59: O woman, you are not merely the handiwork.” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/tagore/161/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Rabindranath Tagore