My desires are many and my cry is pitiful, but ever didst thou save me by hard refusals; and this strong mercy has been wrought into my life through and through. Day by day thou art making me worthy of the simple, great gifts that thou gavest to me unasked; this sky and the light, this [body and the life and the mind]1 saving me from perils of overmuch desire. There are times when I languidly linger and times when I awaken and hurry [in]2 search of my goal; but cruelly thou hidest thyself from before me. Day by day thou art making me worthy of thy full acceptance by refusing me ever and anon, saving me from perils of weak, uncertain desire.
Songs of Desire
Song Cycle by Naresh Sohal (b. 1939)
1. My desires are many and my cry is pitiful  [sung text checked 1 time]
Authorship:
- by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), no title, appears in Gitanjali, no. 14, first published 1912
Based on:
- a text in Bangla (Bengali) by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), appears in গীতাঞ্জলি (Gitanjali), no. 14 [text unavailable]
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Mes désirs sont nombreux et mon cri fait pitié", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1 Sohal: "body, this life and this mind"
2 Sohal: "to"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
2. I am here to sing thee songs  [sung text checked 1 time]
I am here to sing thee songs. In this hall of thine I have a corner seat. In thy world I have no work to do; My useless life can only break out in tunes without a purpose. When the hour strikes for thy silent worship at the dark temple of midnight, command me, my master, to stand before thee to sing. When in the morning air, the golden harp is tuned, honour me, commanding my presence.
Authorship:
- by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), no title, appears in Gitanjali, no. 15, first published 1912
Based on:
- a text in Bangla (Bengali) by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), appears in গীতাঞ্জলি (Gitanjali), no. 15 [text unavailable]
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Je suis ici pour chanter des chants", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
3. I have had my invitation to this world's festival  [sung text checked 1 time]
I have had my invitation to this world's festival, and thus my life has been blessed. My eyes have seen and my ears have heard. It was my part [at this feast]1 to play upon my instrument and I have done all I could. Now, I ask, has the time come at last when I may go in and see thy face and offer thee my silent salutation?
Authorship:
- by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), no title, appears in Gitanjali, no. 16
Based on:
- a text in Bangla (Bengali) by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), appears in গীতাঞ্জলি (Gitanjali), no. 16 [text unavailable]
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1 omitted by Sohal.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]