Relationships
The Crescent Moon: When and Why
Translated by Rabindranath Tagore (1913) · From The Crescent Moon (1913)
When I bring you coloured toys, my child, I understand why there is such a play of colours on clouds, on water, and why flowers are painted in tints—when I give coloured toys to you, my child.
When I sing to make you dance, I truly know why there is music in leaves, and why waves send their chorus of voices to the heart of the listening earth—when I sing to make you dance.
When I bring sweet things to your greedy hands, I know why there is honey in the cup of the flower, and why fruits are secretly filled with sweet juice—when I bring sweet things to your greedy hands.
When I kiss your face to make you smile, my darling, I surely understand what pleasure streams from the sky in morning light, and what delight the summer breeze brings to my body—when I kiss you to make you smile.
Cite this poem
MLA
Tagore, Rabindranath. “The Crescent Moon: When and Why.” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/tagore/608/.
Chicago
Tagore, Rabindranath. “The Crescent Moon: When and Why.” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/tagore/608/.
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