The crimson glow of dusk tinged that day of Chaitra

প্রহরশেষের আলোয় রাঙা সেদিন চৈত্রমাস
Prohor sheshe aaloy ranga

The crimson glow of dusk
Tinged that day of Chaitra*
I saw my ruination in your eyes

In routine rites of life
In daily interactions
In the crisscross of paths
Thousands of people
With their jest and jokes
Amidst all of that
My ruination in your eyes

Mango groves in efflorescence
Blooming trees, fallen blossoms
A familiar fragrance in the breeze
In the budded branches
On the wings of honey bees
Spring breathing in each moment
Amidst all of that
My ruination in your eyes

Chaitra* - last month of the Bengali year that falls in spring

You are the primordial force

প্রথম আদি তব শক্তি
Prothomo aadi tobo shokti

You are the primordial force
The first flare of radiance
The supreme glow in the sky

You are the origin of sound
Flowing through the world
You are the source of bliss
Taking new form and feeling
In many a heart and mind

The sun, moon and stars shine
In the sky of your bosom
Life ripples in the breeze
You are the first and foremost poet
The master of all poets to come
Your chants resound in this world and beyond

My leave has been granted

পেয়েছি ছুটি, বিদায় দেহ ভাই
Peyechhi chhuti

My leave has been granted
Bid me farewell, my friends
I pay my respect to one and all
I return the keys to the door
No more claims have I to make
I seek today your words as grace
I was your neighbour for many days
I received much more than I gave
Night gives way to the dawn
The corner lamp blows out
I hear the summons
And so I move on

We met on the way at the end of day

পথে যেতে তোমার সাথে মিলন হল দিনের শেষে
Pothe jete tomar shaathe

We met on the way at the end of day
When I went to look at you
In a trice, did the twilight fade away
I won’t grieve if I see you or not
Wait for just a moment
Let me cover your feet with my tresses

O Lord, remove all hurdles on the path of love

নাথ হে, প্রেমপথে সব বাধা ভাঙিয়া দাও
Nath hey, prempothe shob badha

O Lord, remove all hurdles on the path of love
Keep no barriers between us
Do not stay away from me
In seclusion and companionship
Within my heart and outside
I wish to see you all the time

Gaze at Her night and day

নিশিদিন চাহো রে তাঁর পানে
Nishidin chaho re

Gaze at Her night and day
Flourishes life in singing Her praise
Sight within Her beautiful face
Partake of Her love and forget all pain

Night and day to my heart, my beloved

নিশিদিন মোর পরানে প্রিয়তম মম
Nishidin mor poraney priyotomo

Night and day to my heart, my beloved
You sent your tidings with such ache
You filled my heart time and again
With love, life and many a song
Staying out of sight

The heart of the deepest night

নিশীথরাতের প্রাণ
Nishitho raater praan

The heart of the deepest night
In the soft glow of moonlight
Partakes of a nectar sweet
Steeped in beatitude
She guards no secrets today
Tearing apart the dark shroud
She gives away all she has
All her doors nudged open by the southern breeze
It is at her behest I roam around the woods
With me are my songs of a wakeful night

Silent is the night entranced by moonlight

নীরব রজনী দেখো মগ্ন জোছনায়
Nirob rojoni dekho magno

Silent is the night entranced by moonlight
Softly, softly, ever so softly sing
The night sings a sleepy lullaby
Let your voice blend in her’s

Charmed by the magic of night
Lulled by the sea of silence
Immersed is the world in sleep
Let no eager impassioned tune
Stir a ripple in tranquil seas

Still, so still is the river
She drifts into sleep
With each caress of the breeze
If by chance in her sleep
Touching the shore with a kiss
She is startled herself with the sound
So I say, softly, softly, ever so softly
Let your voice blend with the night

Why in silence wait outside

নীরবে আছ কেন বাহিরদুয়ারে
Nirobe aachho keno

Why in silence wait outside
Darkness engulfs my eyes
I see you not

I know it is time
You will draw me close
You will set afloat my raft
In the high tide

Let my life find fruition
In this auspicious moment
Let all the stars in the sky burst into song

Illumine the caverns of my heart
With a startling, thrilling flash of light

A venturer on new roads

নূতন পথের পথিক হয়ে
Nuton pother pothik hoye

An old companion comes along
As a venturer on new roads
The night lifts her veil at dawn
In that blessed moment of union
After everlasting estrangement

The one I acquire ever anew
By losing him time and again
If I sight him today at dawn
I will lay down afresh
My heart at his feet

Eyes brim with tears

নয়ান ভাসিল জলে
Noyaan bhashilo jole

Eyes brim with tears
Dense waterladen clouds gather
In empty depths of my heart
Ushered in by propitious winds
The night awakens in ecstasy

Glory be to that mercy
That allays the scorched
That quenches the parched
Awaken in joy, my heart
That awaits the rain
Like the chataka bird
Softly, so softly
Sweetly, so sweetly
Drizzles down love

Blow softly, o restless breeze

ধীরে ধীরে ধীরে বও ওগো উতল হাওয়া
Dheere dheere bau

Blow softly, o restless breeze, blow softly
The flute plays the melody of midnight –
Calm down, do calm down

I am the lamp’s flickering flame
Alone, awake, awaiting you aflutter
Whisper softly into my ear
Tell me your innermost thoughts

Bring to this nook of my home
Your tales from faraway lands
Your woodland serenades

I have something I want to say
To the stars at the break of dawn
Let me secretly share it with you

Your eyes have pleaded with me to sing

তোমার  নয়ন আমায় বারে বারে
Tomaar noyon aamaay baare bare

Your eyes have pleaded with me
Time and again to sing a song
They have sent a hint
In many a flower, many a star
On the brink of night and day
In ashen light and pitch darkness

Why did I not sing, how do I tell
Why am I so perplexed
My words gets lost in pain
My tunes get lost in endless shores

Plying the deep currents
You summoned me from the raft
You called out in storm and tempest
In thunderous claps of mute clouds
You beckoned me towards death
In the restless deluge of monsoon nights

Do you not know why I did not go
I sit at the quay gazing out for you
How do I find a way through the sea 

My day is spent without you

তোমা-হীন কাটে দিবস হে প্রভু
Toma heen kaatey dibosh

My day is spent without you
Without you, my dream and awaking
When will you step into my heart

It is for you O Lord, I stay awake

তোমা লাগি, নাথ, জাগি জাগি হে
Toma laagi naath jaagi

It is for you O Lord, I stay awake
Without you, there is no peace
They all move on without me
You my eternal refuge
You stay beside me
Through joy and sorrow
None else can soothe me
When I am seared with guilt

A treasure which drifts across a sudden breeze

তুমি হঠাৎ-হাওয়ায় ভেসে-আসা ধন
Tumi hothat haway bheshe asha dhon

You are that treasure
Which drifts across a sudden breeze
Thus my heart is startled
With this unexpected gift

When is it that you turn up
On secret trails by yourself
Intoxicating the breeze
With a sudden fragrance

In places teeming with people
Seldom is there a chance
To deeply know another
Many are those who go by
Stirring up a lot of dust

From somewhere off the beaten track
A sudden strain of melody
Beckons the traveller gone astray

I am at a loss for words

বাণী মোর নাহি
Baani mor naahi

I am at a loss for words
Splaying my dazed heart
All I can do is gaze

Adorned in shadow and light
I am the night of new moon
Laying out an infinitude of stars
I hope sans expectations
Gazing at the endless road

When you play the flute
A drift of melody glides
Afloat a bewildered breeze
Across the slumber seas
Into the depths of stillness

I echo back your melody
Who knows if it alights
At the shore of your dreams
Plying the immense darkness

I know these days will go by

জানি গো, দিন যাবে এ দিন যাবে
Jaani go din jaabe

I know these days will go by
One day after the noon is gone
A dusky sun will smile sadly
And look at me for the last time

A flute will be heard by the wayside
Along the riverbank, cows will graze
Kids will play in the courtyard
Birds will burst into song
Yet those days too will go by

Before I go, I have one plea
Let me know why I was summoned
To this verdant earth
Her gaze uplifted to the skies
Why did the silence of the night
Speak to me of the stars
Why did the radiance of the day
Buoy my heart so
I plead with you to let me know

When my time here is up
Let me at the end of my song
Pause at the right note
Let me fill my basket
With the bounties of all the seasons
Let me see you in the glow of this life
Let me give you my garland
When my time here is up