The Bird Feather

 This picture captures the personality of the little girl in the poem below.
'The Bird Feather' was one of the first poems I read of Tagore's 30 years ago when I was studying Bengali. I loved the story but only got around to translating the poem a couple months ago.

 Here is my rendition.
 (Parents: You won't want to read this to your children and not because it is 'inappropriate.' Unfortunately, it hits the mark.)

The Bird Feather    পাখির পালক 

Time to play at last arrived

   and midst the children, one broke free,

A little girl cried, “Mother, look!

   See what I’ve found! Now look and see!

Her eyes were lit in joyful glee;

   her lips in dancing laughter,

Hair was strewn and flowing free

  a mane which followed after.

Wrists in colored bangles danced

Trembling bracelets jingling

Like little cymbals sang the news

  Of what cupped hands were bringing.

Her arms wrapped ‘round her mother’s neck;

 She sat upon her knee

The little girl cried, “Mother, look!

  See what I have, O see!

A feather, washed in sunlit gold

 and flowed with golden glory,

From forest canopy did fall

  To tell the sunbeam’s story.

As eyes in gentle softness close

  and sleep’s tale touch dream’s mystery,

So soft the clouds contained the touch,

  Blue spoke of blue sky’s history.

A crowded nest of chirping young

  Tweet in their feathered might

And chirp about the future morn

  The hope of their first flight.

This feather brushed the maiden’s cheek

  First one side then the other,

Wide-eyed and gaily spoke, “Look! See!

  The maid said to her mother.

The mother looked indeed and saw,

 Said, “Such a thing you found!”

Laughed and threw the feather outside

  And left it on the ground.

The speechless child, dumbfounded, she

 Wandered, sat upon a stump,

Bereft of treasured priceless feather,

  Empty handed, shoulders slumped.

Playtime over, laughter ceased

  No more tresses flying

Listless hands and downcast eyes

  Teardrops told her crying.

Arose and searched, the feather found,

 Hid it from her mother.

Alone, she’d keep it to herself

 And never show another.