Religion

Gitanjali 43: The day was when I did not keep

by Rabindranath Tagore 1861–1941

Translated by Rabindranath Tagore (1912) · From Gitanjali (1912)

Religion

The day was when I did not keep myself in readiness for thee; and entering my heart unbidden even as one of the common crowd, unknown to me, my king, thou didst press the signet of eternity upon many a fleeting moment of my life.

And today when by chance I light upon them and see thy signature, I find they have lain scattered in the dust mixed with the memory of joys and sorrows of my trivial days forgotten.

Thou didst not turn in contempt from my childish play among dust, and the steps that I heard in my playroom are the same that are echoing from star to star.

MLA

Tagore, Rabindranath. “Gitanjali 43: The day was when I did not keep.” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/tagore/42/.

Chicago

Tagore, Rabindranath. “Gitanjali 43: The day was when I did not keep.” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/tagore/42/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Rabindranath Tagore