Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE FLUTE-PLAYER OF BRINDABAN by SAROJINI NAIDU

First Line: WHY DIDST THOU PLAY THY MATCHLESS FLUTE
Last Line: THE NECTAR OF THY FLUTE!
Subject(s): DEATH; MELODIES; MEMORY; MUSIC & MUSICIANS; DEAD, THE;

WHY didst thou play thy matchless flute
'Neath the Kadamba tree,
And wound my idly dreaming heart
With poignant melody,
So where thou goest I must go
My flute-player with thee?

Still must I like a homeless bird
Wander, forsaking all
The earthly loves and worldly lures
That held my life in thrall,
'And follow, follow, answering
Thy magical flute-call.

To Indra's golden-flowering groves
Where streams immortal flow,
Or to sad Yama's silent Courts
Engulfed in lampless woe,
Where'er thy subtle flute I hear
Belovèd I must go!

No peril of the deep or height
Shall daunt my wingèd foot;
No fear of time-unconquered space,
Or light untravelled route,
Impede my heart that pants to drain
The nectar of thy flute!



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