I want to tell you my deepest words
I don't dare, I'm afraid you will laugh.
So I laughed at myself, breaking my secret into pieces in jest.
I make my pain easy because I'm afraid you might do the same.
I want to say the most true words I want to say to you,
I don't dare, I'm afraid you won't believe it.
So I pretended to be real and said the opposite of what I really meant.
I made my pain look ridiculous because I was afraid you would do the same.
I want to use precious nouns to describe you,
I don't dare, I'm afraid I won't get adequate reward.
Therefore I give you harsh names to show off my toughness.
I hurt you because I'm afraid you will never know my pain.
I long to sit beside you in silence,
I dare not, for fear that my heart will jump to my lips.
So I talked easily, hiding my heart behind words.
I treat my pain harshly because I'm afraid you will do the same.
I long to be away from you,
I don't dare, for fear that you will see my cowardice.
So I walked up to you casually.
The constant stimulation from your eyes makes my pain always fresh.
— Rabindranath Tagore's "The Gardener"