It Comes To Nothing
Ramprasad Sen

Human rebirth is the hope of hopes,
but my coming into the world
was just coming,
and came to nothing in the end.
A bee imagines a painting
to be the real lotus
and stubbornly hovers near.
Mother, you tricked me with words
and fed me neem leaves
saying they were sugar.
My mouth slavered for sweet
but tasted only bitter.
You have cheated me
my whole life long.
You put me on earth saying
"It's time for us to play,"
but the game you played
only disappointed me.

Ramprasad says this outcome
of the game of existence
was always meant to be.
Now night falls, come and take
your tired child home.