When the creation was new and all the stars shone in their first
splendour, the gods held their assembly in the sky and sang ‘Oh,
the picture of perfection! the joy unalloyed!’
But one cried of a sudden–‘It seems that somewhere there is a
break in the chain of light and one of the stars has been lost.’
The golden string of their harp snapped, their song stopped, and
they cried in dismay–‘Yes, that lost star was the best, she was
the glory of all heavens!’
From that day the search is unceasing for her, and the cry goes
on from one to the other that in her the world has lost its one
joy!
Only in the deepest silence of night the stars smile and whisper
among themselves–‘Vain is this seeking! unbroken perfection is
over all!’
If it is not my portion to meet thee in this life then let me
ever feel that I have missed thy sight–let me not forget for a
moment, let me carry the pangs of this sorrow in my dreams and in
my wakeful hours.
As my days pass in the crowded market of this world and my hands
grow full with the daily profits, let me ever feel that I have
gained nothing–let me not forget for a moment, let me carry the
pangs of this sorrow in my dreams and in my wakeful hours.
When I sit by the roadside, tired and panting, when I spread my
bed low in the dust, let me ever feel that the long journey is
still before me–let me not forget a moment, let me carry the
pangs of this sorrow in my dreams and in my wakeful hours.
When my rooms have been decked out and the flutes sound and the
laughter there is loud, let me ever feel that I have not invited
thee to my house–let me not forget for a moment, let me carry
the pangs of this sorrow in my dreams and in my wakeful hours.
From: GITANJALI – ‘Song Offerings’
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