excerpts from rabindranath tagore's "gitanjali"

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57


Take me this time, Lord.
   Make me all Your own.

Don't move off empty-handed.
   Take this heart by force.

I want no more
   the days I spent without You.
      Cast them into the dust.

From now on
   let me spend my days
      always awake and alert in Your light.

O by what strange impulses
   and by what odd calls
      I've wandered here and there,
         on marked out paths, in barren places.

This time take me to Your heart.
   Set Your face before me.
      Speak Your own words to me.

O how many stains and how much deceit
   still remain
      in the secret recesses of my mind!

Don't leave me because of them.
   Consume them all by fire!


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98


I'll turn my face
   and keep it fixed on You.

Make this wish come true
   in my life.

Just to remain before You,
   just to keep my mind raised to You
      in all pain, in all desires,
         in the midst of every day.

My desired flit about
   in many directions.

Just make this one desire
   come true.

Night after night make this single wish
   awaken in me a single pain,
      making one day after another
         form a garland on a single string,
            in a single song of joy.

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150


I can no longer endure
   this conflict with You.
Day by day
   my debt keeps mounting.
All have come before You in assembly garb,
   bringing their gifts and returning,
while I keep wandering and hiding
   in my soiled clothes--
      I am terribly ashamed and humbled.

And what shall I say
   of agony of mind?
My mind has become speechless:
   it speaks no more to You.
O do not give it back to me
   in this sad state.
Cast it
   where shame and insults are heaped.
Then let me remain at your feet
   forever Yours,
      forever grateful.