Rabindranath Tagore - Maran-Milan (d**h-Wedding) lyrics

Why do you speak so softly, d**h, d**h, Creep upon me, watch me so stealthily? This is not how a lover should behave. When evening flowers droop upon their tired Stems, when cattle are brought in from the fields After a whole day’s grazing, you, d**h, d**h, approach me with such gentle steps, Settle yourself immovably by my side. I cannot understand the things you say. Alas, will this be how you will take me, d**h, d**h? Like a thief, laying heavy sleep On my eyes as you descend to my heart? Will you thus let your tread be a slow beat In my sleep-numbed blood, your jingling ankle-bells A drowsy rumble in my ear? Will you, d**h, d**h, wrap me, finally, in your cold Arms and carry me away while I dream? I do not know why you thus come and go. Tell me, is this the way you wed, d**h, d**h? Unceremonially, with no Weight of sacrament or blessing or prayer? Will you come with your ma**y tawny hair Unkempt, unbound into a bright coil-crown? Will no one bear your victory-flag before Or after, will no torches glow like red Eyes along the river, d**h, d**h? Will earth not quake in terror at your step? When fierce-eyed Siva came to take his bride, Remember all the pomp and trappings, d**h, d**h: the flapping tiger-skins he wore; His roaring bull; the serpents hissing round His hair; the bom-bom sound as he slapped his cheeks; The necklace of skulls swinging round his neck; The sudden raucous music as he blew His horn to announce his coming - was this not A better way of wedding, d**h, d**h? And as that d**hly wedding-party’s din Grew nearer, d**h, d**h, tears of joy Filled Gauri’s eyes and the garments at her breast Quivered; her left eye fluttered and her heart Pounded; her body quailed with thrilled delight And her mind ran away with itself, d**h, d**h; Her mother wailed and smote her head at the thought Of receiving so wild a groom; and in his mind Her father agreed calamity had struck. Why must you always come like a thief, d**h, d**h, always silently, at night’s end, Leaving only tears? Come to me festively, Make the whole night ring with your triumph, blow Your victory-conch, dress me in blood-red robes, Grasp me by the hand and sweep me away! Pay no heed to what others may think, d**h, d**h, for I shall of my own free will Resort to you if you but take me gloriously. If I am immersed in work in my room When you arrive, d**h, d**h, then break My work, thrust my unreadiness aside. If I am sleeping, sinking all desires In the dreamy pleasure of my bed, or I lie With apathy gripping my heart and my eyes Flickering between sleep and waking, fill Your conch with your destructive breath and blow, d**h, d**h, and I shall run to you. I shall go to where your boat is moored, d**h, d**h, to the sea where the wind rolls Darkness towards me from infinity. I may see black clouds ma**ing in the far North-east corner of the sky; fiery snakes Of lightning may rear up with their hoods raised, But I shall not flinch in unfounded fear - I shall pa** silently, unswervingly Across that red storm-sea, d**h, d**h.