THE MODERN REVIEW
No. 5
83
POEMS
By Rabindranath Tagore
englished by the poet himself
The axe begged humbly, "O thou mighty oak,
Lend me only a piece of thy branch—
Just enough to fit me with a handle."
The handle was ready, and there was no more wasting of time.
The beggar at once commenced business—and hit hard at the root,
And there was the end of the oak.
The favorite damsel said, "Sire, that other wretched queen of thine
Is unfathomably deep in her cunning greed.
Thou didst graciously assign her a corner of thy cowshed,
It is only to give her chances to have milk from thy cow for nothing."
The king pondered deeply and said, "I suspect thou hast hit the real truth.
But I know not how to put a stop to this thieving."
The favorite said, "'Tis simple. Let me have the royal cow
And I will take care that none milk her but myself."
Said the beggar's wallet, "Come, my brother purse,
Between us two the difference is so very small,
Let us exchange!" The purse snapped short and sharp,
"First let that very small difference cease!"
The highest goes hand-in-hand with the lowest.
It is only the commonplace who walks at a distance.
The thirsty ass went to the brink of the lake
And came back exclaiming, "O how dark is the water!"
The lake smiled and said, "Every ass thinks the water black,
But he who knows better is sure that it is white."
Time says, "It is I who create this world."
The clock says, "Then I am thy creator."
The flower cries loudly, "Fruit, my fruit,
Where art thou loitering—Oh how far!"
"Why is such a clamour?" The fruit says in answer,
"I ever live in your heart taking form."
Proofread with help of this page: http://bichitra.jdvu.ac.in/content/text_files/english/poems_and_songs/otp/e_p_otp_028/e_p_otp_028_1913_w_01.txt
