Ungrateful Sorrow Poem by Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore

Calcutta (Kolkata), Bengal Presidency / British India

Ungrateful Sorrow

Rating: 3.1


At dawn shey departed
My mind tried to console me -
' Everything is Maya'.
Angrily I replied:
'Here's this sewing box on the table,
that flower-pot on the terrace,
this monogrammed hand-fan on the bed- -
all these are real.'

My mind said: 'Yet, think again.'
I rejoined: ' You better stop.
Look at this storybook,
the hairpin halfway amongst its leaves,
signaling the rest is unread;
if all these things are 'Maya',
then why should 'shey' be more unreal? '

My mind becomes silent.
A friend arrived and says:
'That which is good is real
it is never non-existent;
entire world preserves and cherishes it its chest
like a precious jewel in a necklace.'

I replied in anger: 'How do you know?
Is a body not good? Where did that body go? '

Like a small boy in a rage hitting his mother,
I began to strike at everything in this world
that gave me shelter.
And I screamed:' The world is treacherous.'

Suddenly, I was startled.
It seemed like someone admonished me:' You- ungrateful! '

I looked at the crescent moon
hidden behind the tamarisk tree outside my window.
As if the dear departed one is smiling
and playing hide-and-seek with me.

From the depth of darkness punctuated by scattered stars
came a rebuke: 'when I let you grasp me you call it an deception,
and yet when I remain concealed,
why do you hold on to your faith in me with such conviction? '

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Subhas Chandra Chakra 26 May 2016

I looked at the crescent moon hidden behind the tamarisk tree outside my window. As if the dear departed one is smiling and playing hide-and-seek with me. Beautiful lines Guruji, That is why you are so great and the Viswakabi. Thanks off my little heart. Subhas

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Edward Kofi Louis 26 May 2016

Yet, think again! Able to understand the ways of life. Thanks for sharing.

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Ratnakar Mandlik 26 May 2016

Beautifully envisioned meaningful poem dealing with some sapects of the philosophy of life. Thanks for sharing it here.

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R.k.s. Yadav [ Rahee] 26 May 2016

i looked at the crescent moon...and yet when i remain concealed.....beautiful poem by the poet who is not to be assessed by a small poet like me...

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M Asim Nehal 25 October 2021

When eyelid will close all will be true Maya only. Wisely conceived poem.

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James Corro 26 May 2016

Intense poem. I well written or translated?

1 1 Reply
* Sunprincess * 26 May 2016

.........a thought provoking poem on having faith in things unseen ★

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Mark Jackson 26 May 2016

nice poem i thought it was a very interesting aspect of life

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Savita Tyagi 26 May 2016

When I let you grasp me you call it a deception....yet I remain concealed...why do you hold your faith in me with such conviction.....beautiful lines containing a haunting question....it is troubling to all. Each one of us finds a way to answer it. The answer to it has never been simple and straightforward.

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Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore

Calcutta (Kolkata), Bengal Presidency / British India
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