Gitanjali 89

1861 –

1941

No more noisy, loud words from me-
such is my master's will. Henceforth
I deal in whispers. The speech of my
heart will be carried on in murmurings
of a song.
Men hasten to the King's market.
All the buyers and sellers are there.
But I have my untimely leave in the
middle of the day, in the thick of work.
Let then the flowers come out in my
garden, though it is not their time;
and let the midday bees strike up their
lazy hum.
Full many an hour have I spent in
the strife of the good and the evil, but
now it is the pleasure of my playmate
of the empty days to draw my heart on
to him; and I know not why is this
sudden call to what useless incon-
sequence!

From Gitanjali (Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1913) by Rabindranath Tagore. This poem is in the public domain.

Gitanjali 35

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;

Where knowledge is free;

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;

Where words come out from the depth of truth;

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;

Rabindranath Tagore

1916

Gitanjali 34

Let only that little be left of me whereby I may name thee my all.

Let only that little be left of my will whereby I may feel thee on every side, and come to thee in everything, and offer to thee my love every moment.

Let only that little be left of me whereby I may never hide thee.

Let only that little of my fetters be left whereby I am bound with thy will, and thy purpose is carried out in my life—and that is the fetter of thy love.

Rabindranath Tagore

1916

Gitanjali 33

When it was day they came into my house and said, “We shall only take the smallest room here.”

They said, “We shall help you in the worship of your God and humbly accept only our own share of his grace”; and then they took their seat in a corner and they sat quiet and meek.

But in the darkness of night I find they break into my sacred shine, strong and turbulent, and snatch with unholy greed the offerings from God’s altar.

Rabindranath Tagore

1916

Poems

Gitanjali 89

More by this poet

Gitanjali 35

Gitanjali 34

Gitanjali 33

Poems

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Gitanjali 89

More by this poet

Gitanjali 35

Gitanjali 34

Gitanjali 33

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