Relationships
The Crescent Moon: The Astronomer
Translated by Rabindranath Tagore (1913) · From The Crescent Moon (1913)
I ONLY said, "When in the evening the round full moon gets entangled among the branches of that Kadam tree, couldn't somebody catch it?"
But dādā laughed at me and said, "Baby, you are the silliest child I have ever known. The moon is ever so far from us, how could anybody catch it?"
I said, "Dādā, how foolish you are! When mother looks out of her window and smiles down at us playing, would you call her far away?"
Still dādā said, "You are a stupid child! But, baby, where could you find a net big enough to catch the moon with?"
I said, "Surely you could catch it with your hands."
But dādā laughed and said, "You are the silliest child I have known. If it came nearer, you would see how big the moon is."
I said, "Dādā, what nonsense they teach at your school! When mother bends her face down to kiss us does her face look very big?"
But still dādā says, "You are a stupid child."
Cite this poem
MLA
Tagore, Rabindranath. “The Crescent Moon: The Astronomer.” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/tagore/612/.
Chicago
Tagore, Rabindranath. “The Crescent Moon: The Astronomer.” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/tagore/612/.
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