O woman, have you seen sleepless nights?
Instead of trembling joy, have you found—
the presence of eternal anguish?
In nature's darkness have you heard—
instead of romance, love stories
tangled with complications, tears!
Have you ever walked that path
which has no end, no boundary,
no nearness to any fixed pattern—
only the invitation to walk for ages upon ages,
with cups of poison instead of clear water along the way!
O woman, have you seen blood...blood?
Red krishnachura flowers...haven't you seen even those?
Never gone near the consumptive, perhaps?
Don't you know separation either, even from this distance?
Promising one day to give pure love
you left me behind, and in that
lifelong cherished longing—
you brought the shadow of a dark girl!
O woman, haven't you seen sleepless nights?
Yet because of you, I have seen them.