SRI AUROBINDO
Translations
from Sanskrit and Other Languages
II. From Bengali
VIII
Alternate Version
Childhood is flown, youth arrived.
The swift, light spirit in her feet that lived
Has fled to its new home in her eyes.
Yet are Love’s glorious envoys two
Seeing her eyes her errands do.
Her hand to seize her raiment’s border
And to rebuke its sweet disorder.
She clothèd now in bashfulness
Her lovely laughter must suppress.
All her musical words she speaks
With bent head and shamèd cheeks.
Her heavy hips usurped the pride
Have, was once to her waist allied.
And she her faltering steps sustained
Walks clinging to some girl’s light hand
In her companion train. Thus grown
Ripe for thee is Radha known.
Hear, Madhav, this conclusion true
And hearing, what Love wills that do.