Tagore Love Songs

for mezzo-soprano, baritone and piano

1. Do not keep to yourself

Do not keep to yourself the secret of your heart, my friend!

Say it to me, only to me, in secret.

You who smile so gently, softly whisper, my heart will hear it,

not my ears.

The night is deep, the house is silent, the birds' nests are

shrouded with sleep.

Speak to me through hesitating tears, through faltering smiles,

through sweet shame and pain, the secret of your heart!

2. When she passed by me

When she passed by me with quick steps, the end of her skirt

touched me.

From the unknown island of a heart came a sudden warm breath of

spring.

A flutter of a flitting touch brushed me and vanished in a

moment, like a torn flower petal blown in the breeze.

It fell upon my heart like a sigh of her body and whisper of her

heart.

3. When the two sisters go to fetch water

When the two sisters go to fetch water, they come to this spot

and they smile.

They must be aware of somebody who stands behind the trees

whenever they go to fetch water.

The two sisters whisper to each other when they pass this spot.

They must have guessed the secret of that somebody who stands

behind the trees whenever they go to fetch water.

Their pitchers lurch suddenly, and water spills when they reach

this spot.

They must have found out that somebody's heart is beating who

stands behind the trees whenever they go to fetch water.

The two sisters glance at each other when they come to this spot,

and they smile.

There is a laughter in their swift-stepping feet, which makes

confusion in somebody's mind who stands behind the trees whenever

they go to fetch water.

4. I would ask for still more

I would ask for still more, if I had the sky with all its stars, and the

world with its endless riches; but I would be content with the smallest

corner of this earth if only she were mine.

5. My heart, the bird of the wilderness

My heart, the bird of the wilderness, has found its sky in your eyes.

They are the cradle of the morning, they are the kingdom of the

stars.

My songs are lost in their depths.

Let me but soar in that sky, in its lonely immensity.

Let me but cleave its clouds and spread wings in its sunshine.

6. It was in May

It was in May. The sultry noon seemed endlessly long. The dry

earth gaped with thirst in the heat.

When I heard from the riverside a voice calling, "Come, my

darling!"

I shut my book and opened the window to look out.

I saw a big buffalo with mud-stained hide, standing near the

river with placid, patient eyes; and a youth, knee deep in

water, calling it to its bath.

I smiled amused and felt a touch of sweetness in my heart.

7. My songs are like bees

My songs are like bees; they follow through the air some fragrant

trace--some memory--of you, to hum around your shyness, eager for its

hidden store.

When the freshness of dawn droops in the sun, when in the noon the air

hangs low with heaviness and the forest is silent, my songs return home,

their languid wings dusted with gold.

8. Do not go, my love

Do not go, my love, without asking my leave.

I have watched all night, and now my eyes are heavy with sleep.

I fear lest I lose you when I am sleeping.

Do not go, my love, without asking my leave.

I start up and stretch my hands to touch you. I ask myself, "Is

it a dream?"

Could I but entangle your feet with my heart and hold them fast

to my breast!

Do not go, my love, without asking my leave.

9. He whispered, my love

He whispered, "My love, raise your eyes."

I sharply chided him, and said "Go!"; but he did not stir.

He stood before me and held both my hands. I said, "Leave me!";

but he did not go.

He brought his face near my ear. I glanced at him and said,

"What a shame!"; but he did not move.

His lips touched my cheek. I trembled and said, "You dare too

much"; but he had no shame.

He put a flower in my hair. I said, "It is useless!"; but he

stood unmoved.

He took the garland from my neck and went away. I weep and ask

my heart, "Why does he not come back?"

10. If you would have it so

If you would have it so, I will end my singing.

If it sets your heart aflutter, I will take away my eyes from

your face.

If it suddenly startles you in your walk, I will step aside and

take another path.

If it confuses you in your flower-weaving, I will shun your

lonely garden.

If it makes the water wanton and wild, I will not row my boat by

your bank.

11a. Then finish the last song

Then finish the last song and let us leave.

Forget this night when the night is no more.

Whom do I try to clasp in my arms? Dreams can never be made

captive.

My eager hands press emptiness to my heart and it bruises my

breast.

11b. Then finish the last song

Then finish the last song and let us leave.

Forget this night when the night is no more.

Whom do I try to clasp in my arms? Dreams can never be made

captive.

My eager hands press emptiness to my heart and it bruises my

breast.

12. There are numerous strings in your lute

There are numerous strings in your lute, let me add

my own among them.

Then when you smite your chords, my heart will break

its silence, and my life will be one with your song.

Amidst your numberless stars let me place my own

little lamp.

In the dance of your festival lights my heart will

throb and my life will be one with your smile.

Rabindranath Tagore

Poems 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are from The Gardener (New York: Macmillan, 1913), Nos. XXIV, XXII,
XVIII, XXXI, XXVIII, XXXIV, XXXVI, XLVII and LI. Poems 4 and 13 are from Lover's Gift and Crossing (London:
Macmillan, 1918), Nos. V and LXVIII. Poem 7 is from The Fugitive and Other Poems (Santiniketan: 1921), No. II:VII.
All texts are in the public domain.