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The morning sea of silence broke into ripples of bird songs; and

the flowers were all merry by the roadside; and the wealth of

gold was scattered through the rift of the clouds while we busily

went on our way and paid no heed.

We sang no glad songs nor played; we went not to the village for

barter; we spoke not a word nor smiled; we lingered not on the

way.  We quickened our pace more and more as the time sped by.

The sun rose to the mid sky and doves cooed in the shade.

Withered leaves danced and whirled in the hot air of noon.  The

shepherd boy drowsed and dreamed in the shadow of the banyan

tree, and I laid myself down by the water and stretched my tired

limbs on the grass.

My companions laughed at me in scorn; they held their heads high

and hurried on; they never looked back nor rested; they vanished

in the distant blue haze.  They crossed many meadows and hills,

and passed through strange, far-away countries.  All honour to

you, heroic host of the interminable path!  Mockery and reproach

pricked me to rise, but found no response in me.  I gave myself

up for lost in the depth of a glad humiliation–in the shadow of

a dim delight.

The repose of the sun-embroidered green gloom slowly spread over

my heart.  I forgot for what I had travelled, and I surrendered

my mind without struggle to the maze of shadows and songs.

At last, when I woke from my slumber and opened my eyes, I saw

thee standing by me, flooding my sleep with thy smile.  How I had

feared that the path was long and wearisome, and the struggle to

reach thee was hard!

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From: GITANJALI – ‘Song Offerings’

    By: RABINDRANATH TAGORE

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