Triveni Journal
1927 | 11,233,916 words
Triveni is a journal dedicated to ancient Indian culture, history, philosophy, art, spirituality, music and all sorts of literature. Triveni was founded at Madras in 1927 and since that time various authors have donated their creativity in the form of articles, covering many aspects of public life....
Little Bird, Little Bird
By The Rev. Narayan Waman Tilak Translated from Marathi by R. L. Rau
"Little Bird, Little Bird"
BY THE REV. NARAYAN WAMAN TILAK 1
Little bird, little bird, will you return to me?
Little bird, little bird, will you not remember
The little pleasant autumn hour?
Little bird, little bird, will you not remember
My breath which has mingled with the wind?
No, no, my little one, you will fly away I know;
You will fly away with the first coming of the summer wind
And disappear from my poor forsaken world.
Stay awhile, therefore, little thing; for once
Let me look at you.
See this little scar you made on my wrist when you
First came to me, little bird . . .?
The scar will remain: but you will be away.
Forget me, little bird, in the great wide world
And fly away.
But stay awhile, and accept this tearful farewell
Little bird . . .
Translated from MARATHI by
R. L. RAU.
1
The Rev. Narayan Waman Tilak was a very popular poet of Maharashtra and a great writer of verse and devotional literature. Most of his poems are set to music and the above sad refrain is sung in every cultured home in Maharashtra.