People in the village called her dark;
to me Krishnokoli suited her nice…
Saw her in the field on a cloudy day,
the dusky lass with dark gazelle eyes;
She wore no veil upon her head,
hanging down on her back was her braid.
Dark? So dark may she have been,
I have seen her dark gazelle eyes.

The billowy gloom descending upon
brought plaintive moos from both black cows –
The dusky lass with concerned steps
came running out of the house.
Frowning ’pon the overcast sky,
she heard a few rumbles passing by.
Dark? So dark may she have been,
I have seen her dark gazelle eyes.

Sudden easterlies went rushing past,
creating ripples on the paddy heads.
Stood I alone by the embankment
with no one around, none else in the mead.
Whether or not she glanced at me,
I only know and so does she.
Dark? So dark may she have been,
I have seen her dark gazelle eyes.

This way dark rainclouds from the Northwest
blow in at the summer’s end;
Come monsoon, ’pon the palm-grove,
a dark and mellow shadow descends;
In this way on a rainy night,
the heart is filled with a sudden delight…
Dark? So dark may she have been,
I have seen her dark gazelle eyes.

To her I refer as Krishnokoli,
some other name may others call her by.
Came across her at Mainapara,
the dusky lass with dark gazelle eyes.
’Pon her head she pulled no veil –
the meeting too short for an awkward feel.
Dark? So dark may she have been,
I have seen her dark gazelle eyes.

[The original copyright for this song is with the Vishwabharathi Publications. The copyright for this translation is with Kausik]