(Birpurush)
by Rabindranath Tagore
Imagine, ma, we two on a holiday,
Traveling to a land far, far away
You keep looking at the way
From inside your palanquin
I’m on a crimson stallion
Galloping steadily along.
My horse’s hooves hurl dust up high,
Reddening the evening sky.
At sundown we reach a vast field
Next to two ponds lying side by side.
Whichever way we care to look
Wide empty spaces meet the eye.
“Where are we? “You ask fearfully,
And I say, comfortingly,
“ Don’t worry dear, we are here
See the stream over there?”
Through a weed-covered field
The path winds its way,
No people or cattle to be seen
They are in now that it’s evening.
Who knows where we are heading?
In darkness nothing can be seen!
Suddenly, you say to me
“Is that a light I see in the night
Just next to the pond’s side?”
Instantly we hear shouts, “Beware,
Yo-ho-ho-ho-ho, we’re here!”
Terrified, you duck inside the palanquin
Praying to God to intervene.
Its bearers to the forest flee
Looking at each other fearfully
But I tell you confidently,
“I’m here, ma, why worry”?
Staff in hand, hair in disarray,
Hibiscus in ears, thugs block our way.
I yell, “Stop—come no closer
Here’s my sword, my Excalibur,
With it all of you I’ll slay.”
For a moment the rogues stare
And then they cry out “ Beware,
Yo-ho-ho-ho-ho, we’re here!”
Fearful, you say, “don’t go Khokon.”
I say, “Ma, in a moment I’ll be done.”
I attack them with sword and shield
And men fall right and left in the field,
Imagine, ma, the action furious and fast
Enough to leave you completely aghast
So many thugs scatter, terrified
So many villains die, decapitated!
You think—will my come back alive?
Will he fight all odds and survive?—
I return— blood and sweat all over me—
And declare, “I’ve won!” triumphantly
Amazed, you alight from the palanquin
Kiss me lovingly and take me up,
And say, “Lucky our Khokon was there
Without him imagine the end of the affair!”
So many fabulous things happen every day
Why, alas, can’t such action come my way?
Wouldn’t it be great to tell such a story?
And wouldn’t all listen to it breathlessly?
Surely only my brother would say
“Khokon a champion? No way!”
Surely everyone else would declare,
“Thank goodness, our champion was there!”
October 13, 2005