The Gardener 41
I long to speak the deepest words I have to say to you; but I darenot, for fear you should laugh.That is why I laugh at myself and shatter my secret in jest.I make light of my pain, afraid you should do so.
I long to tell you the truest words I have to say to you; but Idare not, being afraid that you would not believe them.That is why I disguise them in untruth, saying the contrary of what I mean.I make my pain appear absurd, afraid that you should do so.
I long to use the most precious words I have for you; but I darenot, fearing I should not be paid with like value.That is why I gave you hard names and boast of my callous strength.I hurt you, for fear you should never know any pain.
I long to sit silent by you; but I dare not lest my heart come out at my lips.That is why I prattle and chatter lightly and hide my heart behind words.I rudely handle my pain, for fear you should do so.
I long to go away from your side; but I dare not, for fear mycowardice should become known to you.That is why I hold my head high and carelessly come into your presence.Constant thrusts from your eyes keep my pain fresh for ever.
Words in this poem
- jest n.
- A deed; an action; a gest. [OE. jeste, geste, deed, action, story, tale, OF. geste, LL. gesta, orig., exploits, neut. pl. from L. gestus, p. p. of gerere to bear, carry, accomplish, perfor]
- untruth n.
- The quality of being untrue; contrariety to truth; want of veracity; also, treachery; faithlessness; disloyalty.
Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.
About this text
The Gardener 41 is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Gardener, translated by the author from the original Bengali (Macmillan, London and New York, 1913; this text the 1915 printing), Project Gutenberg ebook #6686; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.
Cite as: Rabindranath Tagore, The Gardener 41, in The Gardener (1913), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #6686, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/tagore-gardener/poem-41.html, id L27677.
About this section
The Gardener 41 is prose, printed in 5 paragraphs. It is part of the edition and is kept for reading, but nothing here is measured: the line breaks are the printer's, so no metre, rhyme scheme or scansion is stated.
The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.