Karma (Radha's Complaint)

Love, but my words are vain as air!

In my sweet joyous youth, a heart untried,

Thou tookst me in Love’s sudden snare,

Thou wouldst not let me in my home abide.

And now I have nought else to try,

But I will make my soul one strong desire

And into Ocean leaping die:

So shall my heart be cooled of all its fire.

Die and be born to life again

As Nanda’s son, the joy of Braja’s girls,

And I will make thee Radha then,

A laughing child’s face set with lovely curls.

Then I will love thee and then leave;

Under the codome’s boughs when thou goest by

Bound to the water morn or eve,

Lean on that tree fluting melodiously.

Thou shalt hear me and fall at sight

Under my charm; my voice shall wholly move

Thy simple girl’s heart to delight;

Then shalt thou know the bitterness of love.

(From an old Bengali poem)

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