Religion

Song XXX: On this tree is a bird: it dances in the joy of life

by Kabir c. 1440–1518

Translated by Rabindranath Tagore, with Evelyn Underhill (1915) · From Songs of Kabir (1915)

Religion

On this tree is a bird: it dances in the joy of life. None knows where it is: and who knows what the burden of its music may be?
Where the branches throw a deep shade, there does it have its nest: and it comes in the evening and flies away in the morning, and says not a word of that which it means.
None tell me of this bird that sings within me.
It is neither coloured nor colourless: it has neither form nor outline:
It sits in the shadow of love.
It dwells within the Unattainable, the Infinite, and the Eternal; and no one marks when it comes and goes.
Kabîr says: "O brother Sadhu! deep is the mystery. Let wise men seek to know where rests that bird."

MLA

Kabir. “Song XXX: On this tree is a bird: it dances in the joy of life.” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore, with Evelyn Underhill. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/kabir/29/.

Chicago

Kabir. “Song XXX: On this tree is a bird: it dances in the joy of life.” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore, with Evelyn Underhill. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/kabir/29/.

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