Gitanjali - Guest:

  • The night darkened.
  • Our day's works had been done.
  • We thought that the last guest had arrived for the night and the doors in the village were all shut.
  • Only some said the king was to come.
  • We laughed and said - No, it cannot be!
  • It seemed there were knocks at the door and we said it was nothing but the wind.
  • We put out the lamps and lay down to sleep.
  • Only some said, It is the messenger!
  • We laughed and said - No, it must be the wind!
  • There came a sound in the dead of the night.
  • We sleepily thought it was the distant thunder.
  • The earth shook, the walls rocked, and it troubled us in our sleep.
  • Only some said it was the sound of wheels.
  • We said in a drowsy murmur, No, it must be the rumbling of clouds!
  • The night was still dark when the drum sounded.
  • The voice came - Wake up!
  • delay not!
  • We pressed our hands on our hearts and shuddered with fear.
  • Some said, Lo, there is the king's flag!
  • We stood up on our feet and cried - There is no time for delay!
  • The king has come but where are lights, where are wreaths?
  • Where is the throne to seat him?
  • Oh, shame!
  • Oh utter shame!
  • Where is the hall, the decorations?
  • Someone has said, Vain is this cry!
  • Greet him with empty hands, lead him into your rooms all bare!
  • Open the doors, let the conch-shells be sounded!
  • in the depth of the night has come the king of our dark, dreary house.
  • The thunder roars in the sky.
  • The darkness shudders with lightning.
  • Bring out your tattered piece of mat and spread it in the courtyard.
  • With the storm has come of a sudden our king of the fearful night.
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