Religion
Fruit-Gathering 42: I cling to this living raft
Translated by Rabindranath Tagore (1916) · From Fruit-Gathering (1916)
I cling to this living raft, my body, in the narrow stream of my earthly years.
I leave it when the crossing is over. And then?
I do not know if the light there and the darkness are the same.
The Unknown is the perpetual freedom:
He is pitiless in his love.
He crushes the shell for the pearl, dumb in the prison of the dark.
You muse and weep for the days that are done, poor heart!
Be glad that days are to come!
The hour strikes, O pilgrim!
It is time for you to take the parting of the ways!
His face will be unveiled once again and you shall meet.
Cite this poem
MLA
Tagore, Rabindranath. “Fruit-Gathering 42: I cling to this living raft.” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/tagore/555/.
Chicago
Tagore, Rabindranath. “Fruit-Gathering 42: I cling to this living raft.” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/tagore/555/.
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