The Bengali Book of English Verse/Refusal (Prafulla Ranjan Das)
PROFULLA RANJAN DAS.
1881-
Refusal.
Ah, not to-night!—for thrilled yet wild with fire,
The night would whisper burning words to me,
And I should blindly search Eternity
For passion fit to crown the wild desire
To-night gives birth to!—and that passion's hire
Summoned from all the times would ever be
A bitter shame and joyless memory,
—A thing whereon would tremble Heaven's just ire!
For I would love thee only with my soul,
And build thereby a palace strong, secure,
To stand amidst the vain pomps that allure
And leave but corpses as they onward roll!
Oh, then, at last when Death demands its toll,
There's something to remember,—calm and pure!