Gitanjali 75

1861 –

1941

Thy gifts to us mortals fulfil all our
needs and yet run back to thee un-
diminished.
    The river has its everyday work to
do and hastens through fields and
hamlets; yet its incessant stream winds
towards the washing of thy feet.
    The flower sweetens the air with its
perfume; yet its last service is to offer
itself to thee.
    Thy worship does not impoverish the
world.
    From the words of the poet men take
what meanings please them; yet their
last meaning points to thee.

From Gitanjali (Macmillan and Company, 1916) by Rabindranath Tagore. This poem is in the public domain.

Gitanjali 15

I am here to sing thee songs. In this hall of thine I have a corner seat.

In thy world I have no work to do; my useless life can only break out in tunes without a purpose.

When the hour strikes for thy silent worship at the dark temple of midnight, command me, my master, to stand before thee to sing.

When in the morning air the golden harp is tuned, honour me, commanding my presence.

Rabindranath Tagore

1916

Gitanjali 14

My desires are many and my cry is pitiful, but ever didst thou save me by hard refusals; and this strong mercy has been wrought into my life through and through.

Day by day thou art making me worthy of the simple, great gifts that thou gavest to me unasked—this sky and the light, this body and the life and the mind—saving me from perils of overmuch desire.

There are times when I languidly linger and times when I awaken and hurry in search of my goal; but cruelly thou hidest thyself from before me.

Rabindranath Tagore

1916

Gitanjali 13

The song that I came to sing remains unsung to this day.

I have spent my days in stringing and in unstringing my instrument.

The time has not come true, the words have not been rightly set; only there is the agony of wishing in my heart.

The blossom has not opened; only the wind is sighing by.

I have not seen his face, nor have I listened to his voice; only I have heard his gentle footsteps from the road before my house.

Rabindranath Tagore

1916

Poems

Gitanjali 75

More by this poet

Gitanjali 15

Gitanjali 14

Gitanjali 13

Poems

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Gitanjali 75

More by this poet

Gitanjali 15

Gitanjali 14

Gitanjali 13

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