254 RABIN DRANATH TAGORE
Strike my drowsy heart with thy spell of youth !
Let my joy in life blaze up in fire.
Let the shafts of awakening fly piercing the heart of
night and a thrill of dread shake the palsied
blindness, I have come to raise thy trumpet from the dust.
Sleep is no more for me — my walk shall be through
showers of arrows. Some shall run out of their houses and come to my
side — some shall weep. Some in their beds shall toss and groan in dire dreams : For to-night thy trumpet shall be sounded.
From thee I had asked peace only to find shame. Now I stand before thee — help me to don my
armor ! Let hard blows of trouble strike fire into my life. Let my heart beat in pain — beating the drum of thy
victory. My hands shall be utterly emptied to take up thy
trumpet.
— Rahindranath Tagore.
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