Ineffable

I boasted among men and women
that I had known you, and they see
your picture in all my works
and ask me, ‘Who is he?’

I do not know to answer them
so I say, ‘Indeed, I cannot tell.’
Denouncing me, they go away with disdain
while you sit there smiling.

Then I put stories of you into songs
as inspiration rush from my heart
and men and women come to me
saying, ‘Tell us the meaning.’

I do not know to answer them
so I say, ‘Who knows what they mean!’
Denouncing me, they go away with disdain
while you sit there smiling.

Adopted from Tagore’s Gitanjali, poem 102

Henry Victor          14.11.2012