Gitanjali

When thou commandest me to sing 
it seems that my heart would break with pride; 
and I look 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 adoration spreads 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 thy presence.

I touch by the edge of the far-spreading wing 
of my song thy feet 
which I could never aspire to reach.

Drunk with the joy of singing I forget myself 
and call thee friend who art my lord.

The day is no more, 
the shadow is upon the earth. 
It is time that I go to the stream 
to fill my pitcher.

The evening air is eager 
with the sad music of the water. 
Ah, it calls me out into the dusk. 
In the lonely lane there is no passer-by, 
the wind is up, 
the ripples are rampant in the river.

I know not if I shall come back home. 
I know not whom I shall chance to meet. 
There at the fording in the little boat 
the unknown man plays upon his lute.

In one salutation to thee, my God, 
let all my senses spread out 
and touch this world at thy feet.
Like a rain-cloud of July 
hung low with its burden of unshed showers 
let all my mind bend down at thy door 
in one salutation to thee.
Let all my songs gather together 
their diverse strains into a single current 
and flow to a sea of silence 
in one salutation to thee.
Like a flock of homesick cranes 
flying night and day 
back to their mountain nests 
let all my life take its voyage 
to its eternal home 
in one salutation to thee.