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Light, my light, the world-filling light, the eye-kissing light,

heart-sweetening light!

Ah, the light dances, my darling, at the centre of my life; the

light strikes, my darling, the chords of my love; the sky opens,

the wind runs wild, laughter passes over the earth.

The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light.  Lilies

and jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of light.

The light is shattered into gold on every cloud, my darling, and

it scatters gems in profusion.

Mirth spreads from leaf to leaf, my darling, and gladness without

measure.  The heaven’s river has drowned its banks and the flood

of joy is abroad.

Let all the strains of joy mingle in my last song–the joy that

makes the earth flow over in the riotous excess of the grass, the

joy that sets the twin brothers, life and death, dancing over the

wide world, the joy that sweeps in with the tempest, shaking and

waking all life with laughter, the joy that sits still with its

tears on the open red lotus of pain, and the joy that throws

everything it has upon the dust, and knows not a word.

Yes, I know, this is nothing but thy love, O beloved of my heart–

this golden light that dances upon the leaves, these idle clouds

sailing across the sky, this passing breeze leaving its coolness

upon my forehead.

The morning light has flooded my eyes–this is thy message to my

heart.  Thy face is bent from above, thy eyes look down on my

eyes, and my heart has touched thy feet.

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From: GITANJALI – ‘Song Offerings’

    By: RABINDRANATH TAGORE

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