IMMORTAL RABINDRANATH
Translated by MOHAMMAD SHAFIQUL ISLAM
Rabindranath keeps awake by you every day
Youths, adolescents and children, don't feel sad for him
Only his body departed, but his love and affection persist
Whenever you read him, you see the light of hope
With the music of his poetry.
Fear flees with his fearless words
If powerless, you consider yourself feeble
But you're reborn with strength and courage reading his work
Whenever the world is dull for poverty, diseases and sorrows
Read Rabis's 'Geetali' and 'Geetanjali' – you'll attain strength
Hearing of Rabi's fame, don't show only respects
Read his work over and over, you'll be famous and erudite
In his works, Rabindranath says – youths, listen –
One who doesn't dream to be great remains little
Think every day, now and then – I won't be little
My Creator pervades everywhere in the universe
With His blessings there won't be want, I'll achieve perfection
And earn ample knowledge and strength, and go to Him contemplating
One who dreams big this way realises, in imagination,
The blessings of God come and stay with him forever
Fortunate, he becomes great and heroic in this world
Even at death, he's immortal and revered by all nations
Have thirst to be great, you'll certainly become one
Even if not Rabindranath, you'll be many other lights
You'll be Napoleon, Hitler, or Gandhi, the Indian leader
You don't know you might be the conqueror of the world
'Not slaves, we'll be free and the sons of the immortals'
Pray, I say, God will listen to you
This is the poet laureate's magic – if you follow,
You'll always be showered with his grace.
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