Chain Of Pearls

Rabindranath Tagore

Chain Of Pearls

Mother, I shall weave a chain of pearls for thy neck 

with my tears of sorrow. 

The stars have wrought their anklets of light to deck thy feet, 

but mine will hang upon thy breast. 

Wealth and fame come from thee 

and it is for thee to give or to withhold them. 

But this my sorrow is absolutely mine own, 

and when I bring it to thee as my offering 

thou rewardest me with thy grace. 

A Moments Indulgence

I ask for a moment's indulgence to sit by thy side. The works 

that I have in hand I will finish afterwards. 

Away from the sight of thy face my heart knows no rest nor respite, 

and my work becomes an endless toil in a shoreless sea of toil. 

Today the summer has come at my window with its sighs and murmurs; and 

the bees are plying their minstrelsy at the court of the flowering grove. 

Now it is time to sit quite, face to face with thee, and to sing 

dedication of life in this silent and overflowing leisure.