SRI AUROBINDO
Translations
from Sanskrit and Other Languages
II. From Bengali
The soul, as yet divided from the Eternal, yet having caught a glimpse of his intoxicating beauty grows passionate in remembrance and swoons with the sensuous expectation of union.
O beauty meant all hearts to move!
O body made for girls to kiss!
In every limb an idol of love,
A spring of passion and of bliss.
The eyes that once his beauty see,
Poor eyes! can never turn away,
The heart follows him ceaselessly
Like a wild beast behind its prey.
Not to be touched those limbs, alas!
They are another’s nest of joy.
But ah their natural loveliness!
Ah God, the dark, the wonderful boy!
His graceful sportive motion sweet
Is as an ornament to earth,
And from his lovely pacing feet
Beauties impossible take birth.
Catching one look not long nor sure,
One look of casual glory shed,
How many noble maidens pure
Lay down on love as on a bed.
The heart within the heart deep hid
He ravishes; almost in play
One looks,– ere falling of the lid,
Her heart has gone with him away!
Oh if his eyes wake such sweet pain
That even sleep will not forget,
What dreadful sweetness waits me when
Body and passionate body meet.
