by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
Translation by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
Why are those tears in your eyes my child? See original
Language: English  after the Bangla (Bengali)
Why are those tears in your eyes, my child?
How horrid of them to be always scolding you for nothing.
You have stained your fingers and face with ink while writing --
Is that why they call you dirty?
O, fie! Would they dare to call the full moon dirty
because it has smudged its face with ink?
For every little trifle they blame you, my child.
They are ready to find fault for nothing.
You tore your clothes while playing --
Is that why they call you untidy?
O, fie! What would they call an autumn morning
that smiles through its ragged clouds?
Take no heed of what they say to you, my child.
Take no heed of what they say to you, my child.
They make a long list of your misdeeds, my child..
Everybody knows how you love sweet things --
Is that why they call you greedy?
O, fie! What ... would they call us who love you?
Composition:
- Set to music by Frank van Gompel (b. 1965), "Why are those tears in your eyes my child?", op. 33 no. 3, published 2001 [ baritone, violoncello ], from Three Songs for Bariton and Cello, no. 3
Text Authorship:
- by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), "Defamation", appears in The Crescent Moon, no. 10, first published 1913
Based on:
- a text in Bangla (Bengali) by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941) [text unavailable]
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2005-01-17
Line count: 18
Word count: 160