Rabindranath Tagore

Gitanjali Rabindranath Tagore

Thou hast made me endless, such is thy pleasure. This frail vessel thou emptiest again andagain, and fillest it ever with fresh life. This little flute of a reed thou hast carried over hills and dales, and hast breathed through itmelodies eternally new. At the immortal touch of thy hands my little heart loses its limits in joy and gives birth toutterance ineffable. Thy infinite gifts come to me only on these very small hands of mine. Ages pass, and stillthou pourest, and still there is room to fill. When thou commandest me to sing it seems that my heart would break with pride; and Ilook to thy face, and tears come to my eyes. All that is harsh and dissonant in my life melts into one sweet harmony-and my adorationspreads wings like a glad bird on its flight across the sea. I know thou takest pleasure in my singing. I know that only as a singer I come before thypresence. I touch by the edge of the far-spreading wing of my song thy feet which I could never aspireto reach. Drunk with the joy of singing I forget myself and call thee friend who art my lord. I know not how thou singest, my master! I ever listen in silent amazement. The light of thy music illumines the world. The life breath of thy music runs from sky to sky. The holy stream of thy music breaks through all stony obstacles and rushes on. My heart longs to join in thy song, but vainly struggles for a voice. I would speak, butspeech breaks not into song, and I cry out baffled. Ah, thou hast made my heart captive inthe endless meshes of thy music, my master!