Ah me, why did they build my house
Language: English after the Bangla (Bengali)
Ah me, why did they build my house
by the road to the market town?
They moor their laden boats near my trees.
They come and go and wander at their will.
I sit and watch them; my time wears on.
Turn them away I cannot. And thus my days pass by.
Night and day their steps sound by my door.
Vainly I cry, "I do not know you."
Some of them are known to my fingers, some to my nostrils,
the blood in my veins seems to know them,
and some are known to my dreams.
Turn them away I cannot. I call them and say,
"Come to my house whoever chooses. Yes, come."
In the morning the bell rings in the temple.
They come with their baskets in their hands.
Their feet are rosy red.
The early light of dawn is on their faces.
Turn them away I cannot. I call them and I say,
"Come to my garden to gather flowers. Come hither."
In the mid-day the gong sounds at the palace gate.
I know not why they leave their work and linger near my hedge.
The flowers in their hair are pale and faded;
the notes are languid in their flutes.
Turn them away I cannot. I call them and say,
"The shade is cool under my trees. Come, friends."
At night the crickets chirp in the woods.
Who is it that comes slowly to my door and gently knocks?
I vaguely see the face, not a word is spoken,
the stillness of the sky is all around.
Turn away my silent guest I cannot.
I look at the face through the dark,
and hours of dreams pass by.
About the headline (FAQ)
Submitted by Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Authorship
Based on
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive) [ None yet in the database ]
Text added to the website: 2010-11-07.
Last modified: 2014-06-16 10:04:07
Line count: 32
Word count: 283
| Gentle Reminder |
This website began in 1995 as a personal project, and I have been working
on it full-time without a salary since 2008. Our research has
never had any government or institutional funding, so if you
found
the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your gift is greatly appreciated.
- Emily Ezust
|
|
Browse imslp.org (Petrucci Music Library) for Lieder or choral works
|
